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TRURO CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF TRURO

Town Clerk’s Department Municipal Buildings Boscawen Street Truro TR1 2NE Tel. (01872) 274766 www.truro.gov.uk email: roger@truro.gov.uk June 2020

To: The Mayor (Councillor B Biscoe)

Deputy Mayor (Councillor J Allen) Chairman and members of the FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

and all other Members of TRURO CITY COUNCIL for information Dear Councillor

A G E N D A

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Virtual meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee will take place on MONDAY 15 JUNE 2020 at 7.00 pm via the Zoom Virtual Meetings platform (via an email link) for the transaction of the under mentioned business.

1 APOLOGIES 2 DISCLOSURE OR DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3 OPEN SESSION FOR ELECTORS OF TRURO RELATING TO ITEMS ON THIS

AGENDA VERBAL QUESTIONS (5 minutes only) 4 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON

17 FEBRUARY 2020 HAVING BEEN TO FULL COUNCIL HELD ON 24 FEBRUARY 2020

5 TOWN CLERK/RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REPORT

A progress report on the financial Accounts last year and a report (Appendix A) on the financial impact this year of the coronavirus.

6 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT (Appendix B)

Community development officer and assistant to present their reports for the last financial year.

7 COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR – END OF PROJECT FINAL REPORT (Appendix C)

Community Navigator to present her end of project report and discuss priorities and governance of the work to the end of March 2021.

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8 TRURO AND ROSELAND HIGHWAYS SCHEME TRANCHE TWO – (Appendix D)

PRIORISTISATION OPTIONS Members to discuss and agree a response to the report 9 URGENCY PROCEDURE (Standing Order 17b) (Appendix E) To report the attached emergency procedure action 10 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY (CIL) REPORT (Appendix F) To report receipt of funds and options for its use 11 GRANT SCHEDULE

Town Clerk to report on meeting held prior to the Finance and General Purposes Committee

12 CORRESPONDENCE 13 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

13 July 2020 The agenda for the next Finance and General Purposes Committee to be held 13 July 2020 will be prepared on Tuesday 7 July 2020. In accordance with Minute 302 (03.12.12) should a member wish an item to be included on this agenda please inform the Town Clerk’s office by Monday 6 July 2020 as no items other than those on the agenda can be considered at the meeting.

ROGER GAZZARD TOWN CLERK

Enc

Finance & General Purposes Committee A 15th June 2020

Financial Position Report Financial Accounts 2019-20

It is normal practice for the financial Accounts for the last financial year to be presented at the committee, and indeed there is normally a deadline of the 30th June to submit the accounts for audit.

The current position for the 2019-20 year is that the audit deadline has been moved in recognition of the additional workload and working difficulties created by the coronavirus. This has affected ourselves and I will be submitting the accounts to the July committee this year.

The work is nearing completion and our result will be within 1% of the budget.

Financial Position 2020-21

I have reported to the last Council that whilst the coronavirus has affected many income budgets, we have taken mitigating action to balance the budget, and this remains the position. In the Appendix I have tabulated the impacts we have to date. I remain concerned about the second quarter of the financial year when I am anticipating income on many trading activities will remain below budget, but our costs will return to normal. In addition, there is currently uncertainty regarding any financial liabilities arising from the City Centre Pedestrian Management Plan.

The July committee will be reviewing the management accounts for the first quarter of the financial year.

Recommendation

That the report be noted

Roger Gazzard

Town Clerk

Appendix Coronavirus Impact Assumptions as at 31st May Income Expenditure

Loss Saving £'000 £'000

Corporate (assumes HfC work delayed by three months) Business Rates 3 Utility 2 Loan costs 3 Building Facilitator 4 TIC Loss of Shop Sales 19 11 (based on 2019-20 figures) Loss of Ticket Sales 6 5 Rents 2 Building 1 Guide 6 9 Library Income 36 Repair & Maintenance 3 Utility 4 Lemon Quay/Events Rentals from events 15 Delay appointment of assistant 3 Parks Floral Displays 20 Contracts 7 Sponsorship 2 Pitches 1 Tennis 8 Trading Rights 4 Site Rentals 2 Agency 2 Materials 6 Plant & Fuel 2 Overtime 9 Not appoint summer waterers 16 LTA Loan 3 Café Takings 27 8 Public Conveniences Cleaning Materials 1 Water 1 Other Bus Shelter contract 1 Furlough Claim April 30 May 20 June 12

Total 158 156

Net cost/-saving 2

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Damien Richards

Community Development

Officer

Truro City Council

April 2019 – April 2020

Annual Town Report

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‘The United Nations defines Community Development as “a process where community members

come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems.” It is a broad

term given to the practices of activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects

of communities, typically aiming to build stronger and more resilient local communities.’

Truro City Council’s Community Development service is designed to support communities to

continue the great work they are already doing, organise events in communities, help them grow the

use of their centres and open areas and have strong, open and well governed community groups to

deliver positive action in their neighbourhoods and bring communities together. We currently

support nine communities in Truro and that will grow as Truro grows.

Our main work is centred around the largest resident areas of the city, Truro City Council

understands that Community Development leads to stronger communities which in turn will lead to

safer neighbourhoods and a greater wellbeing of the residents. We love seeing communities come

together and we’re here to support, empower and inspire this to happen. We currently work with;

Tregurra, Treffry Road, Malabar, Hendra, Beechwood Parc, Penn An Dre, Malpas Road, Trelander

and St. Clements Close and Rosedale. We work with each of these areas at different levels and in

different ways, some we support and some we are heavily involved with. This however is not

exhaustive, we are also involved with other projects in the City at a hands-on and strategic level,

those will also be covered in this Annual Town Report. We hope you find this report interesting and

if you would like to have more information on Truro City Council and Community Development don’t

hesitate to get in touch, the contact details are at the end of the report.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our Truro City Councillors for their continued support in

these projects, also not forgetting our forward thinking Town Clerk, Roger Gazzard and our and great

administrative staff.

Community Development = Engage, Empower, Develop, Support

This annual report will include:

• Communities update, what’s been happening in the communities we support and what has

been achieved this year

• Other projects we’ve been involved with

• A report from our Assistant Community Development Worker, Catherine Williams

Introduction

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Wow! What can I say about our work at Hendra? Through our Community Development work, we're really pleased to introduce you to Hendra Community Group.

We've enjoyed working with Hendra over the last year, through surveys, consultations and events, and there is now a fully constituted group in Hendra with great ideas and ambition for where they live.

The aims on their constitution are:

• To engage and improve the quality of life for the Hendra community. To include community and fundraising events.

• To improve the area of Hendra. To include improvement of the facilities and physical and natural environment for everyone who lives in the locality.

• To promote a friendly, healthy, brighter Hendra.

Some of the key things happening in Hendra this past year and how we have supported:

• There is now a fully constituted group for the Hendra area with a bank account, so able to

fundraise for projects

• We supported Hendra Community Group to deliver a BBQ that engaged with fellow

residents to give insight into what they wanted for the area and hear more ideas

• Hendra Community Group meet regularly and have real positive plans for the area

• Hendra Community Group are working with community partners to improve the area they

live such as the skatepark and playing fields

• Hendra Community Group are working with Truro City Council to improve and manage the

noticeboard so it can be a hub of information for the community

Hendra

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It’s been an absolute pleasure to support New Beginning Community Association (NBCA) this last

year. NBCA are a team of committed volunteers that bring to the neighbourhood; activities that not

only brings the community together but is also mindful of improving the wellbeing of those that

attend the sessions they deliver. Malabar is one of the largest housing estates in Truro with well over

600 houses, there are people from all walks of life that live there, very young to very old, some

people with health issues, some that are very fit, some that are ‘doing ok’ financially but sadly, some

that are struggling. What NBCA deliver in Malabar not only helps those doing less well than others

but can equally engage with those that are doing ok, hence the term ‘bringing the community

together’, which is not just the tagline for NBCA but a mantra in everything they deliver. We are still

heavily involved at Malabar, attend as many NBCA meetings as we can, are in touch by phone and

messenger for advice and support and co-lead activities such as litterpicks on the estate. As we put

together NBCA some 4 years ago now, we have a strong supporting role in all that happens in the

Malabar area.

Some of the key things happening at Malabar this past year and how we have supported:

• A new project that encourages and supports young people to grow their own vegetables has

been developed, led by the new committee member Adam Hawker, ‘Grow for Life’ has only

recently started but its flourishing as I’m sure the produce will do too

• The 0ver 50s group is going very well with regular members and new ones joining, the aim of

the group is to reach out to those that would benefit from social interaction, combatting

loneliness and isolation.

• Wednesday night Bingo is popular, drawing in 30 plus attendees every week

• Community Café is held every Thursday afternoon where anyone can drop in for a cuppa and

a chat

• There are often events happing at the community centre that aims to ‘bring the community

together’, events at Christmas, Easter, litterpicks and many more

• NBCA were awarded for ‘Outstanding Service to the General Community’ at the Mayor’s

Community Celebration event at Truro Cathedral (picture below)

• We give continued support for the build of the new community centre, through meeting

attendance at New Council Hall with other stakeholders. We are determined for this build to

happen as we are well aware of the difference its going to make in the community

Malabar

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Rosedale is a hidden gem of a community, tucked away but within a ten-minute walk to the city

centre. Rosedale sits on the banks of the River Kenwyn, has extensive woodland areas and across the

river is Daubuz Moors. Rosedale Community Association (RCA) are a constituted community group

we developed in the area and continue to support. Two of the key projects that RCA are involved

with are; securing funding and delivering a bridge across the River Kenwyn and develop a

management group that will look after and care for, the newly devolved to Truro City Council

Rosedale Woodland. The area has been fenced off for many years and the group have wanted to get

the area opened for all the community to enjoy. I must give a big credit to Councillor Chris Wells and

Stuart Roden for their influential support in this and all the work RCA do.

Rosedale Community Association also drove to galvanise the community and delivered a fantastic

community funday last Summer which was very well attended and got a great deal of respect for

Rosedale Community Association, they have a proper ‘let’s do this’ attitude and I’m looking forward

to working with them more in the coming months and years.

Some of the key things happening at Rosedale this past year and how we have supported:

• Held weekly ‘Neighbourhood Walks’, a way to meet others in the community and to listen

• Attended all community association meetings, and supported the use of the new Pydar Pop

Up venue for future meetings

• Supported events such as: litterpicks, the Summer Fete, Christmas Santa Grotto and

involvement with the City of Lights workshops

• We are working with Rosedale Community Association to secure the bridge over the River

Kenwyn and the opening the woodland area for all the residents to enjoy

Rosedale

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Trelander combined with St. Clements Close is one of the largest resident areas in Truro and they

have the fantastic Trelander and St. Clements Community Hall serving the area which is a valued

asset for the community. Trelander and St. Clements Community Association work in partnership

with the Children and Family Services and support the delivery of a well-attended youth club. That’s

not all that is delivered at the community hall, some of the other activities that the centre delivers

for the community are as follows:

Monday Morning - Be Kind To Yourself – gentle exercise for older people from 9:30am –

11:30am

Monday Evening - Yoga - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Monday Evening – Bingo 7:30pm – 9:00pm

Tuesday Evenings– Martial Arts - 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Wednesday Morning - Gentle Yoga for older people - 10:00am – 12:00pm

Wednesday Evening – Youth Club – 6pm – 8pm

Thursday Morning - pottery and crafts for under 5 year olds 9:00am – 11:30am

Thursday Evening - Karate 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Saturday Morning – Circus Skills – 9:00am – 1:00pm

Sunday Morning - Vineyard Church family’s sessions – 9:00am – 1:30pm

Some of the key things happening at Trelander this past year and how we have supported:

• We work with partners to deliver the area a community funday

• We attend committee meetings to give our support and advice

• We have supported secretarial duties and minute committee meetings

• Regularly hold one to one meetings, face to face or by phone to continue our support for the

fantastic community centre and community association

• We hold regular litterpicks that not only has a positive environmental impact but also give

residents an opportunity to meet each other where they might not have done

Trelander and St. Clements

Close

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Tregurra is at the top of Truro…. well, on that side of our beautiful valley. It’s not the largest estate

but it has a chip shop, creative telephone box library and community focused residents. A few years

ago, Tregurra Residents Association adopted the phone box and instead of having it removed, they

converted it into a phone box library which is well used as a place for people to leave and/or pick up

books.

Some of the key things happening at Tregurra this past year and how we’ve supported:

• We have been working with residents around the green area, Cornwall Housing and Tregurra

Residents Association to support them to develop the green on Pensilva Road. There are

now plans in place to have seating and raised beds homing a selection of flowers and shrubs.

There is hope that these developments will encourage people not to park on the green and

churn it up when its wet but provide a place for residents to meet

• Tregurra Residents Association has dropped in numbers so we’ve been working hard this

past year to revitalise it

• We’ve worked with TRA for a BBQ planned in May, a way to bring the community together

and boost numbers for the association

• Worked with key committee members to get a planting project started and we

knocked on the door of a resident that backed onto the planting area to discuss what

he thought and how he could be involved

• We facilitated a handover of a mobility scooter from a member of the Rosedale

community to a member of the Tregurra community

Tregurra

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An excerpt from a Facebook post and photos below where the handover of a mobility scooter from

a member of the Rosedale community to a member of the Tregurra community took place

Damien Richards

27 June 2019 ·

Such a great morning! I have neighbourhood walks every week in each of the communities I work with and Tregurra is on Thursday mornings. Greg Walker is the chairman of Tregurra Residents Association and has mobility issues, even though he loves to engage with the community he struggles to get around to do so. After chatting with Tim El-Balawi from Rosedale Community Association Tim stopped me in the road the day after our chat and offered Greg his old mobility scooter so he could get around and didn't want anything for it. Honestly this is the highlight of the week for me and to play a part in facilitating this meant a lot, the kindness here is so special and seeing communities come together. So along with Brian Clemow we went on our usual walkabout and stopped at Cafe Chaos for a cuppa. This act of kindness is a life changer for Greg and gets a real asset to the community out and about, doing what he's great at, connecting with his fellow residents.

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Penn An Dre is a little community of relatively newly built houses on a site that was once the Richard

Lander School and before that, Penwethers School. The community has a shop close by, a great

church which is very community-focused led by the brilliant Reverend Jeremy Putnam. Penn An Dre

has Penn An Dre Residents Association (PADRA) that are a voice for the community, take part and

organise community events through a productive partnership with All Saints Church. PADRA have

been in place since we started the initial engagement work back in 2017.

How we have supported Community Development at Penn An Dre this last year:

• Ongoing advice and support of PADRA

• Facilitated Penn An Dre to be involved with City Clean Up

• Supported the very well attended AGM

Penn An Dre

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We’ve worked closely in the Malpas Road area since 2009 and were instrumental in the opening of

the Community Centre. We are leaseholders, see this facility as a vital asset for the community and

work closely with Children’s Services. For many years there has been a vibrant community

association for the area but sadly in recent times we have seen that disband so of course we would

like to see more community-led activity in the area and are here to support that to happen. At the

beginning of this year we were holding conversations with CHAOS with a view for them to be based

at the Community Centre a few days a week bringing with them a wealth of Community

Development experience. Us working with them in the Malpas Road area will bring significant

benefits for the residents….watch this space!

Malpas Road

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As with the other areas in Truro we’re here to support this community, we attend as many of the

Beechwood Parc Community Association (BPCA) committee meetings as we can and I must say their

meeting governance is of a very high quality. They also have a new Chair in post that is determined

to bring the community together and we look forward to working alongside BPCA in the coming

months and years.

Beechwood Parc

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Treffy Road is quite a large area to the North of the City, we work in this area and support the very

active Treffry Road Community Association. The community focused group brings various

community activities including: A popular Summer fete, Christmas Carol Service and a Santa’s

Grotto. The community association are a well governed strong unit, held a very well attended AGM

towards the end of last year and signed up a much needed new secretary for the committee.

Treffry Road

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I’m always keen to engage with new areas in Truro and as new communities are being built, I work

on engaging with the new tenants to let them know about our Community Development Service.

Below I’ve attached a copy of the letter I delivered to the residents of Trevethow Riel in February

this year. After receiving this letter, a resident got in touch to invite me to visit so he could get

more of an understanding of the offer, and also present aspects of his community to me and ways

it could improve. Going forward with Trevethow Riel I will follow the tried and trusted process of

engagement, survey, meetings and events, make plans to bring the community together, and

maybe end up with a community association for the area we can work with. Continuing the

extension of our Community Development Offer.

Trevethow Riel

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Second page of the introduction letter to the residents of Trevethow Riel…

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Other Community Development activity,

events, connected projects and partnerships

we are involved with

Pydar Pop Up is where hardy Carpets used to be based at St. Clements Street, there are plans to

redevelop the whole site which includes the car park, Carrick House council offices and warehouses.

We are working with Truro BID and Cornwall Council on a ‘meanwhile use’ project with Pydar Pop

Up. There are lots of community focused groups using the facility including: Truro Repair Café, Hall

for Cornwall Dance, City of Lights workshops, Rosedale Community Association, Yoga, Art Well

Creative Connections, band practices, theatre rehearsals, training workshops, and a very exciting

community art project covering the back wall of the main room.

Pydar Pop Up Management Group

Truro City Youth Council

We are supporting a project led by

our Mayor, Cllr Bob Smith where a

Truro City Youth Council has been

created. We believe it’s long overdue

the young people of Truro have a

voice that can make a real difference

in our community.

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Devolved to us from Cornwall Council, we are now the owners of the beautiful Coosebean Woodland

and land either side of the River Kenwyn. This large area has two of the communities we work

closely with on either side of it, Malabar and Hendra. So it was a ‘natural fit’ that we work alongside

our Countryside Ranger, Chris Waddle to set up of a friends of group for the area. Both Chris and I

are firm believers in empowering communities to take control of assets and have more say in how

they are run. The beauty of this group and I saw it from the start, even before we took on the land,

that it would be a perfect opportunity to bring two communities together on a project. I work very

well with Chris as he aligns well to our community development values.

Friends of Coosebean

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We have been working with City of Lights this past year by attending operational meetings when

possible. The last event went well, in its twentieth year and is an iconic Truro-wide community

event. We’re always pushing for more neighbourhood involvement and last year the fantastic drop-

in lantern creation workshops took place at Pydar Pop Up. It was great that people walking by could

see what was going in the building and the intrigue brought them in to get involved.

City of Lights

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I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to spend 3 days in Bristol at the end of April last year, I’ve

written a full report on my time there and more than happy to share that with you if you request

using my details at the end of this report. For now, I’ll give you a snippet by copying in a small part of

the conclusion so you can get an idea of what the report includes. I’d be happy for you to request a

copy of the report, it was an eye-opening trip and one I’d like to share with you.

Conclusion from Bristol visit report, April 2020

‘I’m glad it’s taken me a while to write a conclusion to this report, its allowed me to see the whole

picture more clearly. I was wowed with Bristol while in the City, enjoyed my time there very much

and saw from a first-hand perspective how Asset Based Community Development worked. In my

early hours at Bristol and in my first neighbourhood I did see that the neighbourhoods were more

densely populated, and I saw this as an opportunity to engage with more people. I also saw that

the diversity, especially in the inner-city areas led the way to more culturally innovative ways to

engage. I did envy that, as I personally relish different cultures and enjoy sharing life experiences

with people from different backgrounds. I also saw it as an opportunity to blend cultures together,

and in turn bring communities together, I must say at the end of the first day my head was buzzing

with the all the work possibilities there were at Bristol.’

Visit to Bristol City Council’s Community

Development Department

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I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my annual public report, it’s impossible to

include everything I have been involved with over the year but I hope to have showed you some of

my key activities.

If you have any questions, would like to get involved with any of the community activity or have

some new ideas then don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Office Address:

Damien Richards

Community Development Officer

Truro City Council

Municipal Offices

Boscawen Street

Truro

TR1 2NE

Email:

damien@truro.gov.uk

Landline:

01872 274766

Mobile:

07943111661

Or you can find me on Facebook and Twitter at the following links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010173966600

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@DamienTruro

Thank you!

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Annual Report, April 2019 - March 2020

Catherine Williams

Assistant Community Development Worker

Trelander’s Family Fun Day.

Posing with Truro’s Food Works students, Truro branch

of Cornwall Food Foundation, after givng a guided tour

of Penair Community Garden.

(Picture: Billy Trenerry). Hendra community group preparing for litter pick in their locality.

The second year of my working in Community Development for

Truro City Council, the major aim was to newly/better acquaint

myself with functioning Trelander community groups/activities/

events; thus seeking to forge links with those residents who are

playing key roles towards improving the quality of lives of those

around them and, as a result, my proposal was to lend support in

building further upon these existing foundations.

This year has been one of continuing/extending my role in sup-

porting and/or working with a variety of groups/organisations,

events and activities: Truro Repair Café; Trelander Family Fun Day;

Trelander Litter Picks; Green Truro; Curriculum Enrichment Week

at Penair School; Cornwall Food for Change’s local Food Works

and Grow Truro leaders; Truro Community Connect; Penair Com-

munity Garden; Truro Talking Cafés.

Thank you for taking time to read this summary of another year

spent in partially facilitating the positive growth within a fraction

of our many communities.

(Unless otherwise stated, general poster designs and photographs are my own.)

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Trelander & St Clements New Year’s

Litter Pick

• Fourteen bags of litter were collected, in total, four of those being filled with recyclable tins and plastic bottles. • Eleven volunteers attended. • There was a lot of rubbish which had accumulated behind the garages by the Community Hall.

• There was also a lot of litter around the front entrance of the Community Hall which had gathered under the walkway. • It was assessed that there was enough litter remaining in the area to justify repeating the litter

pick every two months and then, less often, as we get on top of the situation. • This event provided the opportunity for discussion, thus cementing working relationships and

making new acquaintances with those who are keen to volunteer in their community.

The Trelander & St Clements litter pick went very well in January 2020. It was planned to coincide with the monthly coffee and breakfast community group, run by Truro Baptist Church at Trelander & St Clement’s Community Hall, where volunteer litter pickers were offered free refreshments for after the event. Equipment and guidance supplied by Clean Cornwall A second community litter pick, in the area, took place in March 2020.

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Trelander Community Association has invited me

to continue taking and drawing up the minutes of

their monthly meetings. These meetings afford

me the opportunity to understand what is hap-

pening, in the area, regarding the everyday run-

ning of Trelander and St Clement’s Community

Hall; also getting to meet others who are involved

in the community, be it committee members

themselves or leaders of groups and organisa-

tions who make use of the Hall’s facilities.

Trelander & St Clement’s

Community Association

Trelander Family Fun Day

(Poster design: 3 Rivers, Vineyard Church.)

Already established and well attended, in the past, this year

(2019) I played a part in planning Trelander Family Fun Day with

local Vineyard Church leaders, Leigh-Ann and Ben Tyler.

I invited groups/people, two of which were delighted to attend:

Charlotte Mackrill and team, for Trelander Youth Club and The

Outdoor Place; Rita Steven for Trelander’s Syrian refugees and

Dor Kemmyn (Multifaith group).

The sun shone and a good time was had by all, both indoors and

outside. Photographs are on the following page.

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Trelander Family Fun Day

It was good to see people

who work in the Trelander

community meeting for the

first time and having the op-

portunity to exchange ideas

and information. The picture,

left, shows representatives of:

Dor Kemmyn (interfaith

group); those working with

Trelander’s Syrian refugees

and Trelander Youth Club.

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I joined the planning group for Truro Repair Café not long after it had been set up, attending the first ses-

sion as an interested member of the public to have a Sustrans representative look at my bicycle, there-

after being involved as one of the committee. We have a good number of volunteers with skills and re-

pairs knowledge, from bicycle maintenance to mending clothes. The group meetings consist of enthusias-

tic professionals and volunteers including: Peter Blenard, of Cornwall Council; Sharon Nettleton, Commu-

nity Navigator; Cllr Lindsay Southcombe. The first repair café was held at All Saints Church, Highertown,

Truro; lack of further availability meant we had to move from one community centre to a church hall,

then to Truro Library and Pydar Pop-up rooms. In terms of public attendance, Truro Repair Café got off to

a slow start; however we have seen an promising increase in numbers over the last two events.

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(Above and below photographs by: Lindsay Southcombe)

Learning to crochet in the repair café’s skills corner

Textile repairs and crochet skills share table.

Truro Repair Café’s first Skills Share was a

success with a couple of people ,new to

crochet, instantly hooked and eager to

form a weekly group in Truro.

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Penair Community Garden

Social events at Penair Community Garden are a

worthwhile way of sharing our progress of and enthu-

siasm for the place with others. This year, 2019, a

barbeque/herb-garden area was designed and set up;

what better way to test it out fully, than inviting the

local community to a Summer Solstice gathering. The

longest day of the year, we had plenty of time to feed

all twenty or so guests although not everyone could

gather around the barbeque at the same time. A per-

fect end to the day was enjoyed, thanks to a spectacu-

lar view of the setting sun, from the school field.

The Winter Solstice event attracted a handful

of people, it being a time when folk are more

likely to be Christmas shopping, with family

and friends or being sensible and staying out of

the cold. Thankfully, the greenhouse gave

shelter from the wind and rain. What a differ-

ence six months make.

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Penair School

Curriculum Enrichment Week

Penair Community Garden volunteers were invited to help

in a curriculum enrichment week project at the end of the

school’s summer term. Two of us took up the offer and

met with the teacher leading the project to discuss ideas

and make plans for the week. The initial aim of the school

was to improve a courtyard area so that it could be more

appreciated by pupils and less likely to be mistreated in

giving them a sense of pride and ownership through the

work they would put into it.

We proposed that I invite a couple of friends who are amateur

bee and wasp enthusiasts, with a lot of experience in sharing

their work with the public, to teach and carry out some field

work with the pupils. Additionally, we suggested that the

knowledge gained could be supplemented with a bug hotel

building activity.

An allowance was promised in exchange for materials and

plants for us to source towards planting up the courtyard area.

We also offered to donate some of the plants we had going

spare in the community garden.

Bug hotel, build by pupils, pictured top and bottom left.

Planting up of the courtyard, by pupils, pictured bottom right.

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Penair School’s

Curriculum Enrichment Week

In the classroom: the evolution of wasps, then bees with some

great gory detail; slide show giving interesting facts about pollina-

tors, followed by a quiz.

Fieldwork: information signs dotted around the garden;

instruction and demonstration on catching bees with a net

and identifying them.

Teaching staff admiring the pupils’ planting arrangements in the school

courtyard.

Planters with herbs and lettuce.

10

Truro Green Festival

Rita Stephen, interfaith development worker, became a contact

through her work with Syrian refugee families in the Trelander

area. She kindly invited me to the interfaith events, each one

themed and encouraging a wealth of people with varied back-

grounds and ethnicities. Rita and I have met up at Penair Com-

munity Garden to discuss how we could work together. I also

spent some time at the Syrian children’s summer school.

(Dor Kemmyn images above are shared from social media.)

Truro’s Green Festival was incredibly well attended and

gave the chance to share community information with

many members of the public as well as being able to

learn much of value from other stall holders. I was given

some handy tips from the Repair Café stall’s sewing ex-

pert for mending my clothes.

Sharon Nettleton and I shared her Community Connect

table. It was heartening to see many people showing an

interest in the fast approaching Bug Hunt event on

Daubuz Moor.

Having somewhat of a reputation for being a bit of a

chatterbox, an acquaintance had pointed the local Com-

munity Broadcasting Hospital Network Radio presenter

in my direction. Before long I found myself being inter-

viewed on subjects related to community development,

Transition Truro and, in particular, green issues. Thank-

fully, it wasn’t live which would mean that those awk-

ward moments of my being tongue-tied, for a change,

might be edited out. Anyhow, I ended up going to the

studio at a later date to talk about the work we do in

Truro City Council’s community development team.

Talking about the Bug Hunt on Daubuz Moor.

The Community Connect table with Sharon Nettleton

and, our very own Mayor, Bob Smith.

11

TRURO

TALKING

CAFÉ

Meets here

Truro Talking Café’s, Social Prescribing

& Children’s Day

Children’s Day is an event which Malpas Road Community

Centre volunteer, Dawn Eden, was keen to attend and

raise funds for the Centre. I was there to help on a day

which demanded that I constantly run around to retrieve

stuff which was being picked up by the very strong winds.

Social Prescriber, Lorraine Sharp, invited me for the second year run-

ning to the Social Prescribing Day event, held at Truro Health Park

where she works with Truro GP surgery referrals. The event is

attended by a variety of organisations who take on social prescription

referrals and it’s a good means of learning what’s available in Truro

and beyond in terms of supporting people’s mental and physical

health needs… and, yes, that really is me basking in my moment of

glory as royalty in the Café Chaos gilded throne.

January 2020 marked the beginning of my becoming involved in the

Truro Talking Café network, meeting regularly with Lindsay South-

combe, Sharon Nettleton and the network’s Royal Voluntary Service

supported volunteers. Debi, Colours Café owner and manager,

planned with me how to deliver a weekly Talking Café session at her

premises and with a mindfulness crafting theme. I’ve been attending

Colours Café’s Mindful Craft and Chat groups, as a Community Con-

nect representative, on Wednesday afternoons.

12

Continue support for Trelander and St. Clements Community Association, also staying involved in the area’s events and activities.

Attend meetings; take minutes; keep in touch with established groups in the area; help to deliver events and activities in the area by means of direct participation and publicising.

Facilitate green related community group activities in the Trelander and St. Clements area working with Chris Waddle, Rita Stephen and Charlotte Mackrill’s youth group.

Meet with Chris Waddle to make initial plans and invite others to join in planning and delivering green activities in the area.

Supporting established groups: build on the deliv-ery of the Repair Café; Rivers and Spires, positive Truro news, publication; Friends of Victoria Gar-dens.

Attend regular meetings, giving support in the deliv-ery of events and activities: publicising; administra-tion; taking part on the day.

Continue relationship with Cornwall Food Founda-tion, Penair School, Community Navigator, Social Prescribers, Green Events, CHBN, Truro BID

Stay in touch with and keep people/groups connect-ed with what’s happening in and around Truro. Take part in events/activities, representing relevant Truro Community Groups and Truro City Council. Examples: Green Truro; Truro Day; Children’s Day. Take an active role in publicising events/activities.

Looking Ahead

Plans for the year ahead are conveniently, for me, available in last November’s appraisal documentation

and listed below.

As you are aware, the COVID19 pandemic has necessitated previously unforeseen adaptations to our

work as the nation’s social behaviours are greatly altered. For now, this means working from home and

making best use of the tools modern technology affords us in delivering support to and development of

Truro’s communities. For me, the current changes to our lifestyles is giving the opportunity to raise local

community spirits regarding the encouragement to look outwardly, upon nature, and to learn more

about the wild flora and fauna in our neighbourhoods. I’m currently working with our Countryside Rang-

er, Chris Waddle, delivering posts on social media to raise interest in Truro’s wildlife, particularly in those

wild areas managed by Chris. We have already gained, in the month since the Truros Green Community

facebook group was launched, nearly three hundred members; this is the very beginning of getting more

Truro residents interested and involved, current restrictions applied, in our outdoor wild spaces. The

Twitter group, @green_truro, was set up in the last week of April 2020 and is beginning to grow in num-

bers of followers. If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at these social media groups and

feel welcome to share your experiences and thoughts, on these platforms, about Truro’s wildlife.

For now, stay safe and well. Thank you again, for reading my report and I hope you found it interesting.

Any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me: email, Catherine@truro.gov.uk; mobile, 07410696181.

Post Covi-19 – Continued Support Service plan

‘Some time ago I put together a plan for residents of neighbourhoods that needed support during the Covid-19 pandemic due to having to self-isolate. The support plan took on aspects of what was happening at Threemilestone and in other parts of Cornwall. The plan was offered to all the communities we currently work with in Truro, but it was the residents of Hendra and Malabar that really took the mantle.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working with the coordinators of the service being delivered to write a proposal of how we move forward post Covid-19. We have been discussing how it can be continued after the Covid-19 pandemic has passed and into the future. Both Lesley Goodman from NBCA Malabar and Diana Miners from Hendra Community Group are keen to continue coordinating.

There is amazing work happening at Hendra and Malabar all year round but having this plan to support vulnerable residents in the community all the time is a great asset to have in the armoury.

I’ve attached the plan of how it will look, of course it retains the parts that have been working well but we’ve added a bit more, it’s been ‘tweaked’ for future use.

This has been written to be shared with other communities we work with and as you will see in the proposal, can be brought into communities without community associations in place.’

Hendra Community Group

How our communities can support the vulnerable, post Covid-19

Damien Richards, Community Development officer, Truro City Council

1st June 2020

Truro City Council

We have seen NBCA Malabar and Hendra Community Group step up to support those that are having to self-isolate and vulnerable in their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. I’ve been thinking how we can build on the fantastic work in the community and how this can continue after the pandemic has passed. There may not be a need to self-isolate but there are still going to be vulnerable people in need of support, can this model work after the pandemic has passed? I think it can and the operational structure is already in place with minimal change required. I’d like to credit Lesley Goodman from NBCA Malabar and Diana Miners from Hendra Community Group for delivering the service so effectively during the Covid-19 outbreak.

This is a new way of working, thinking and volunteering in our communities, members of communities helping each other, yes work alongside the third sector and statutory bodies, partnership working is important but the grass roots community groups and the support they provide should be a strong voice and practical support in the community; and be the first port of call for residents to go to.

This proposal of the way forward is written in partnership with Hendra Community Group and NBCA Malabar, they know their community and us working together writing this will deliver the best results for those in need of support.

We see this as a pilot and will offer this to other community groups in Truro and communities without association groups that would like to come together and get something off the ground. The Community Development Service is in place to work with new community groups and old for capacity building requirements.

How can the help continue and look post Covid-19?

Support projects can be rolled out in the community on the back of the great work that has taken place during the Covid-19 pandemic. Volunteers in the community have been coordinated to support those who are having to self-isolate and vulnerable, without family or friends who can help. So, how does this work? Well, it’s a very simple but effective way to reach a lot of people, offering help to many but delivering the support in a sustainable way:

• A private Facebook group is set up which is purely for volunteers wishing to help in thecommunity, it’s important to remember that this page won’t be used by those in need butby those offering support, the volunteers at Malabar and Hendra have been strong users ofsocial media so fit well with this communication platform.

• Someone in the community acts as the main point of contact, a coordinator. For Malabarand Hendra it’s been a member of the community association but having a communityassociation isn’t imperative, this model can be facilitated without one and Truro CityCouncil’s Community Development Service can facilitate this until it’s standalone and thengive ongoing support.

• A flyer is designed, printed and delivered with the coordinators contact details listed, therecan be other information on the flyer, perhaps what support and wellbeing activities areavailable in the in the community centre or other local facilities such as the church, healthcentre, community hall or school. The flip side half could be used as a communitynewsletter.

• When a call or text is received by the coordinator the request is placed on the privatevolunteer group, for example ‘a lady in the area needs some shopping to be collected fromthe local shop, who can help?’

• When someone on the private volunteer group says they can help, the coordinator then getsin touch with the volunteer by private message or phone call, explains the need andfacilitates. The use of private messaging or phone conversation means no personalinformation is shared publicly, even on the closed Facebook group with other volunteers.

• If a small amount of shopping is required, payment is made by the person in need on thetelephone with the shop/service, so no money needs to change hands

• If people question the coordinators identity, the coordinator can say to the personrequesting the help to call the Truro City Council mainline and ask for the CommunityDevelopment Officer, they will then be given my mobile number from a third party memberof staff for them to call and I will verify the coordinator.

• We can arrange DBS certificates though Truro City Council if required.

Volunteers are sourced and gathered in a

private Facebook page

by the coordinator

A flyer is designed,

printed and delivered with

the coordinator contact details

included

A request for help comes into the coordinator

The request for help is placed

on the volunteer

Facebook page

When a volunteer

comes forward the coordinator facilitates the

support by private message

or phone call

The support is carried out and the outcomes

listed below are achieved

What help is available?

➢ Collecting pre-ordered, pre-paid shopping or foodbank parcels➢ Collecting pre-ordered and pre-paid prescriptions➢ Volunteers from the team are able to make a phone call for a friendly chat if

someone is feeling lonely and isolated➢ Urgent supplies can be collected➢ Posting letters and parcels➢ Simple gardening and maintenance➢ A signposting service, where the coordinator will be able to signpost to other

services such as where to get a voucher for the Foodbank (The CommunityDevelopment Officer is a Foodbank voucher holder), wellbeing activities atcommunity centres, financial, training and employment support and so on.

This is not exhaustive, other support is available at discretion of the team

Achievable Outcomes:

✓ New community active and focused Volunteers

✓ Minimal input but great output

✓ Community building

✓ Combats loneliness and isolation

✓ Improves physical and mental wellbeing of residents, those volunteering and those receiving

support

✓ This is a free service, so keeps money in the pockets of those in the most need

Feedback questions for those using the service to measure the impact of the

project and a data collection sheet to record and analyse trends of users

Once the support is carried out the coordinator will get in touch with the person receiving the

support to ask a few questions to get feedback for the service. The purpose of the feedback is to add

value to a case for future funding for the service and give evidence to other potential project

partners. These questions could be asked by email, Facebook Messenger, SMS text or a standard

printed letter.

The questions could be:

1) On a scale of one to five, five being excellent and one being poor how do you rate the speed

of the service?

2) On a scale of one to five, five being excellent and one being poor how do you rate the

customer service of the coordinator?

3) On a scale of one to five, five being excellent and one being poor how do you rate the

customer service of the volunteer who carried out the task required?

4) Would you use the service again if needed? Yes/No

5) On a scale of one to five, five being excellent and one being poor how do you rate the

service as a whole?

6) On a scale of one to five, five being much better and one being no change, how much better

to you feel after using the service? Has it helped your mental wellbeing at a time when you

needed this support?

Example of support delivered information capture sheet:

Date Age Gender Road where recipient lives

Community Connect

About Community Connect

Our Vision

Connecting people to their communities, reducing isolation, improving well-being, building thriving resilient communities.

Aims ands Objectives

Reducing social isolation in older people, reducing some demand on general practice, focus on younger parents and families to promote ways to well-being.

Identify sustainable funding.

A Tailored Approach

Feock Parish

Community mapping / asset analysis

Receive signposting requests from General Practice and other sources

Improve wellbeing

Address some General Practice demand

Truro City

Signposting requests from other sources, not General Practice

Work with Volunteer Cornwall Link Worker based in General Practice

New activities in Hendra/Rosedale

Address some General practice Demand

Who have we engaged with?

Age

Gro

up

Number of Referrals

• 192 People

• 68 Male

• 123 Female

• 1 Unknown

Key

Please note that it has been difficult to provide figures of exact engagement levels through the Coronavirus Pandemic.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

0-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65-74

75-84

85-94

95+

Unknown

2

2

3

4

14

10

18

12

1

2

6

4

4

8

6

17

54

16

2

6

1

1

Male

Female

Unknown

Male36%

Female63%

Unknown1%

Male/Female

Area Engagement

Male6

Female6

Chacewater

Male42

Female36

Truro

Male33

Female69

Feock

Chacewater6%

Feock54%

Truro40%

*Including 14 from outside the area

Source

Count of current use of GP Services

Signposted from

Most patients are signposted to the community navigator by their GP or Self-Referral

010203040506070

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Infrequently

Quarterly

Monthly

Fortnightly

Weekly

More than once a week

Frequently

Unknown

Issue PresentedMost frequent issue for all referrals (Including self) is

Loneliness & Isolation (31%)

Information & Advice2%

Loneliness & Isolation31%

Carer Support11%

Mental Health17%

Chronic Health Issues8%

Learning Needs1%

Housing Issues3%

General Support11%

Volunteer Opportunities7%

Transport4%

Bereavement5%

Onward Navigating

Local communityvolunteer led groups

Local communitybusiness/ privateenterprise groups

External (Outside thecommunity) groups/

organisations,specialist charities,

Cornwall andNationwide

Benefit checks Health Service

243

60 67

17 13

Well Being Scores (ONS4)

Life SatisfactionOverall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?

WorthwhileOverall, to what extent do you feel that the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

HappinessOverall, how happy did you feel yesterday?

AnxietyOn a scale where 0 is “not at all anxious” and 10 is “completely anxious” overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Initial 2 Wks 16 Wks

Life Satisfaction Worthwhile Happiness Anxiety

Community• ‘What you’re trying to do is marvellous and I want to help’ Truro

• ‘Can I take people to the garden centre for a cup of tea?’ New volunteer driver, Feock

• ‘I want to help, can I offer to walk a dog or take mine to visit someone?’ Devoran

• ‘Sitting here all day often makes me feel useless. Can I help you? (87yrs offering telephone befriending)

• ‘MB is now sitting in a chair and getting up with no help! CP is a complete joy! Thank you for signposting them to us. We are now completely full to bursting which is

fantastic!’ I Care I Move

• ‘It’s great to be doing something that is both a pleasure and making a contribution to the local community’ Flower club

• ‘Thanks for all you are doing for the Community’ St Georges church PCC Truro

• ‘Thank you to you and the Rosedale Community, it was very kind and a lovely thought and deed delivering me a mince pie and Christmas card today. ‘ Hunkin Close

resident

• ‘I’m so pleased to be working with the community’ Devoran signposted to volunteering in school

• ‘I love coming to school to hear the children read. It’s provide me with a real sense of purpose since my husband died. Thank you for suggesting it’ Devoran

• ‘Call me anytime if the church can help with Pastoral visits’ Carnon Downs Methodist Church

• ‘We’re here to help anyone who’s a carer and would like to join us’ Carnon Downs Carers group

• ‘We’re happy to help and contact someone if they’re interested in joining our group’ Carnon Downs Indoor Bowls club

• ‘When are you coming to visit us again, we love having you come and visit our group’ Carnon Downs W.I Knitters

• ‘We would love to help make cakes and with litter picking for community events’ Carnon Downs Spectrum supported living

• ‘Give us a shout if we can help you with anything like delivering groceries’ Carnon Downs Spar shop

• ‘Please invite people to come to the Talking café and have a free drink on us. We think the work you’re doing is so important for Truro’ Talking Café venue

Individuals• ‘Thank you, this is the first present I’ve been given in 2 years’ Carnon Downs (Sml gift donated by the memory café)

• ‘Coming here means I always have a laugh and something to look forward to’ Carnon Downs

• ‘I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the session, but I have. Thank you so much for inviting me along. I would love to come again next week’ Carnon

Downs

• ‘What you’re trying to do is marvellous and I want to help’ Carnon Downs

• ‘There have been so many professionals coming to see us, why have they never told us about these things like you have?’ Penpol

• ‘New groups pop up and disappear, with no shop, there’s nowhere to go to meet people. ‘ Devoran

• ‘We don’t see our neighbours they leave early and come back late from work. There’s no one to call on if I need help’ Devoran

• ‘I feel so isolated and low in mood. The GP prescribed antidepressants but they don’t help with loneliness. I want to be able to go out’ Feock

• ‘Are you really sure you can do all this for me and I don’t have to pay for anything?’ Feock

• ‘Recovering from my mini stroke last time was so much easier than it has been this time. I feel so frustrated, depressed and isolated at times, can you

come and see what else you can suggest I can do to stop me feeling like this?’ Carnon Downs

• ‘Too many people have visited us before then let us down. I agreed to you coming because you had a nice warm way of talking to me on the phone and

you’re here your warmth and ability to help us in a practical way shines through’ Penpol

• ‘I want people to remember me the way I was and not the way I am now. We feel more supported now people are popping by occasionally with cake

and flowers’ Devoran

• ‘Thank you, this is the first present I’ve been given in 2 years’ Carnon Downs (Sml gift donated by the memory café)

• ‘Coming here means I always have a laugh and something to look forward to’ Carnon Downs

• ‘I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the session, but I have. Thank you so much for inviting me along. I would love to come again next week’ Carnon Downs

• ‘What you’re trying to do is marvellous and I want to help’ Carnon Downs

• ‘There have been so many professionals coming to see us, why have they never told us about these things like you have?’ Penpol

• ‘New groups pop up and disappear, with no shop, there’s nowhere to go to meet people. ‘ Devoran

• ‘We don’t see our neighbours they leave early and come back late from work. There’s no one to call on if I need help’ Devoran

• ‘I feel so isolated and low in mood. The GP prescribed antidepressants but they don’t help with loneliness. I want to be able to go out’ Feock

• ‘Are you really sure you can do all this for me and I don’t have to pay for anything?’ Feock

• ‘Recovering from my mini stroke last time was so much easier than it has been this time. I feel so frustrated, depressed and isolated at times, can you

come and see what else you can suggest I can do to stop me feeling like this?’ Carnon Downs

• ‘Too many people have visited us before then let us down. I agreed to you coming because you had a nice warm way of talking to me on the phone and

you’re here your warmth and ability to help us in a practical way shines through’ Penpol

• ‘I want people to remember me the way I was and not the way I am now. We feel more supported now people are popping by occasionally with cake

and flowers’ Devoran

Individuals Continued

Professionals• ‘I’m in awe of what you manage to do’ Community Nurse

• ‘Thank you for helping my patient, she told me a marvellous woman has helped me sort out so many things and you’re

joining an exercise group together’ Community Matron

• ‘Really well done! Thank you Community Matron

• ‘You’re doing a great job’ GP

• ‘The Social Prescriber cannot help us with this lady, can you help us? ‘Community Nurse Team

• ‘Thank you for your support. I’m very grateful to be working with you Social Prescriber

• ‘This is what the picket fence is all about. Community life can take place between the slats’ Humanitas, Netherlands in

conversation with me commenting on the increased number and height of fences surrounding schools in Truro

• ‘This is a perfect example of why the community model works so well. It has reduced GP and surgery time and worked

preventatively to avert a potential crisis from occurring’ GP

• ‘What an amazing result you have achieved! Again many thanks for all you do! Community Matron

• ‘I’m delighted our community has you working for it. You’re doing a great job’ Surgery Receptionist

• ‘I can’t believe it! I’ve been trying for years to get this patient to go out and join an exercise group and you’ve managed do it!

Their visits to see a GP have reduced dramatically too, thank you’ GP

• ‘What you and Nikki have achieved through Community Connect for me and my clients is fantastic’ DCP

Community groups in Feock Parish

Mapped Visited/ Created Contacted

133 73 12

Community needs in Feock Parish

Affordable / accessible transport

Create closer relationship between local business and the community

Focused Support for Hidden Disabilities

Weekend Support for Older People

Creation of a Charter

Regular community outings

Increased Carer Support

Community Groups in Feock Parish

1. Carers group for parents with an Autistic children (In addition to Truro group)

2. Dementia friendly I.T sessions in association with Memory Café Creation of regular

Dementia Friendly Church services by Carnon Downs Methodist Church Devoran School

3. Community Lunch club Community Choir 'I Belong' project for pupils and parents of

Devoran school

4. Sunday Friendship group

In progress...

• Devoran Community Afternoon Tea sessions

Community groups in Hendra and Rosedale

Mapped Visited/ CreatedContacted

(inc. all of Truro)

35 36 19

Community needs in Hendra and Rosedale

Affordable / accessible transport

Affordable exercise classes (all ages)

Falls Prevention Group

Affordable and Accessible Community Space

Community music/signing groups

Family focused entertainment

Improvements to outside under 16 spaces

Community Groups in Truro1. Repair Café2. Talking Cafes x 63. Walk and Talk4. Library Community Information Sessions5. Parent/Carers Autism Support Group, ‘Guardian Angels’6. Joint working with Eden to create Diabetes Walking Group7. Joint working with Sensory Trust to create Sensory Trust Walking Programme8. Joint creation of Community Magazine9. ‘Friends of Coosebean’ linking with Spectrum, Pentreath, Truro College, Exeter University (Penryn

Campus) Students Union.10. 'Closer links to CHBN, Radio Cornwall, Truro Bid, Truro News helping to raise the profile of Community

based Activities' 11. Loss and Grief Café12. Beyond Suicide13. Menopause Self Support group

In progress..• Walking Football• Men's Community Garden group 'The Truro Tinkers Shed Group'

Issues Log - Feock

1. Lack of local day care

2. Respite care contributing to carer breakdown

3. Weekend lunch and tea groups with access to transport

4. Regular requests for support from neighbouring parishes for parishioners

5. Actively engaging parishioners 18 - 50yrs to support community wellbeing

6. Limited volunteer support to underpin current groups, the driving scheme, development of new

groups to support the unmet need of accessible and affordable transport

7. No supported living schemes for people wishing to downsize and remain in their community

Issues Log - Truro

1. Affordable and accessible transport to access activities door to door for people with

mobility issues

2. Community based lunch clubs in the residential areas

3. Affordable exercise groups for older people and people on low incomes (Including access

and transport costs)

4. Community Hall hire charges, parking and accessibility issues

5. Lack of volunteers to support groups and activities, being experienced by the third sector

6. Support and training for volunteers who regularly meet people with Mental Health issues

7. High expectations being placed on the third sector to deliver support with no additional

funding provided

8. Free support to write bids for funding available to smaller groups to ensure sustainability

9. Ongoing Wellbeing support for Council staff and Councillors

Community Connect – Case Studies

Older Persons

Connecting people back into the community

Community Support Groups

Working with the community

The Family

Using the family unit

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT – OLDER PERSON

BackgroundY has been regularly attending the Talking Cafes for several months. During this time, we have become increasingly aware that Y is livingwith Dementia but is keen to continue to lead an independent life. The Talking Cafes have provided Y with a place to ‘Come and go’ andwhere they feel welcome, safe and with someone to talk to in a non-judgmental way. During the time we have known Y, the disease hasprogressed, resulting in Y not always being sure of the time of day and arriving for the Café session at the incorrect time. Y has onoccasions found it difficult to find their way home which has become stressful for the café staff who didn’t know how to cope or who tocontact, police, 999.

InterventionTalking Café volunteers, the café managers and Y’s carer have collectively created a plan of action to ensure Y can continue to attend thecafes of their choice safely and as independently as possible by implementing a few simple measures:

a) Y now carries their home address in their purse in case of an emergencyb) The Carers emergency contact details are held with consent, by the café managers should there be concerns for Yc) Y carries a smaller amount of money in their purse to ensure their safetyd) Whenever possible a carer will collect Y from the sessione) Dementia awareness information and support has been provided to the Cafes and Volunteersf) Cafes have been encouraged to join the Safe Places scheme.

ImpactY continues to attend the Cafes providing conversational opportunities to reduce feelings of isolation and support Y’s independent livingchoices, whilst balancing the risks to Y. The Cafes feel confident to support customers with Dementia and create a future plan of action forpeople they feel are vulnerable and at risk.The community need and want to feel empowered to support people like Y. If this support isn’t offered, Y would be in danger of beingencouraged to stay at home, therefore, reducing their independence and increasing isolation which is likely to accelerate the course of thedisease and increase the need for intervention by ASC to provide additional carer support.In addition, Y’s carer is provided with the much needed respite care for small regular amounts of time throughout the week, reducing therisk of carers breakdown. Over several months’, Y, their carer, the volunteers and café staff have become united as part of a community toprovide support, safety, reduce the need for additional intervention and friendship to one another at zero cost.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT – COMMUNITY WELLBEING SUPPORT

BackgroundCarnon Downs is a large rural community with an above average population of older people. The village provides a range ofessential services and amenities for residents and the surrounding villages too including a thriving shop, post office, hairdresser,village hall, nursery, restaurant, garden centre, church, group activities, dentist and GP surgery. Over the past year, the village hasembraced the Community Connect project, forging closer links for example between the surgery and local groups throughoffering for example, support and encouragement to new people interested in joining a new activity or requiring various formsof support.

To enable a group and the community to reach out further to people to support their wellbeing can require additional resourcesand information being made available to them therefore ensuring the vital role they play can continue and be sustainable.From Jan 2020 we began a programme of work to enable Carnon Downs to become a more Dementia friendly community. Firstly,I enlisted the help of the Memory Café and Carers group and was invited to meet with their Committee to share my ideas, butmore importantly to listen to their thoughts and ideas, discuss some of the current models being used across the UK and whatthey felt would best suit their members needs and their community. The groups welcomed and were fully supportive, offering tohelp where they could. The next step involved speaking to the Dementia Care Practitioner and the Carers Service. I felt it wouldbe important to have input and the support of professionals closely linked to people living with dementia locally to ensure theinitiative would be a success.

MethodThe Memory café decided they would like to approach local businesses to encourage them to register for the Purple Angelscheme (https://purpleangel-global.com/) to provide useful business information published by the Alzheimer’s Societyhttps://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-friendly-communities/making-organisations-dementia-friendly/businesses and information to register for the Safe Places Scheme managed by Cornwall Councilhttps://www.healthycornwall.org.uk/professionals/champs-team/safe-places/ . I created information packs, contacted andarranged to meet with the customer facing businesses in Carnon Downs drawn up by the Committee Members.In addition, a programme of work has started to create as many Dementia friends as possible in the Community. Surgery staff, theMethodist church and the Village Hall have taken up the challenge.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT – COMMUNITY WELLBEING SUPPORT (Continued)

So far…• 45 people have become Dementia Friends• Businesses signed up to the schemes include the local Dentist, Hairdresser, Methodist Church, Carnon Inn. (Awaiting to return

to the Village Hall, Local Shop and Garden centre)• Feock Library and Parish Council tbc.• The Methodist Church have decided to hold regular Dementia Friendly Services from the autumn.• Devoran School plan to introduce a programme to create Dementia Friends with years 5&6. This will work to support the

introduction of Community Lunches in the school now scheduled to commence in the Autumn Term.• Community Connect has worked to create a Dementia Friendly IT support group with the Memory Café, led by staff who

previously worked for the CRCC Veteran IT Support Project. Our aim is to help people living with Dementia locally, to be asindependent as possible, prevent people feeling excluded and to embrace technology which can support their health andwellbeing from Suduko to medication prompts. Laptops and I Pads to Alexa.

The work has only just begun, but in 3 months a lot has been achieved to begin to create a Dementia Friendly Community.

ImpactThis clearly demonstrates how a community has responded to an identified need, to support the wellbeing of people living withDementia, their families and carers. By offering to provide a programme of support and education to groups, businesses andmembers of the community, reduces negative responses faced in the past by people with Dementia, brought about throughmyths , fear and a lack of understanding to provide a more positive response by the community, ensuring a safer, happier placefor people to live with a reduction in isolation for minimal investment.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT – FAMILY

BackgroundFamily X comprised of Mum, Dad and 2 x children 12 and 9yrs. There are no grandparents or immediate family. Both parents were employed. Whilst at work, Mum, began to feel slightly unwell with a sore throat and raised temperature. On the journey home she realised the symptoms had become worse and with Christmas only a few weeks’ away, she decided to make an appointment to see her GP for 3 days’ later. The GP referred her to the hospital for a scan and further tests which all took place within the week. Mum was diagnosed with leukaemia, whilst palliative treatment was offered, she took the brave decision not to undergo treatment, wanting the children to remember her as being fit and well. She died in the local hospice 2 weeks’ later aged39yrs.

InterventionThe family live in a tight knit supportive community and were devastated by their loss. Unsure where to find the support, Community Connect was able to provide indirect support to the family through their immediate friends in the community. I arranged for emergency food vouchers via the Foodbank and collected supplies on a weekly basis for 3 weeks which the family’sneighbour and good friend gave to the family. On the first occasion it was reported back the father had broken down in tears on the doorstep grateful and overwhelmed with the love he felt from the community. This was the first time he had cried after his wife passed away.With no income now coming in and the delay incurred once benefit forms are completed the community wanted to provide the family with food and presents for Christmas. Following a few phone calls, provisions for Christmas dinner were sourced and a selection of toys provided by Sainsburys, wrapped and ready for Christmas day.I provided numbers and contact details for online wellbeing support including Way Up for the community to offer when they felt the time was right. The local schools and Penhaligan’s friends supported the children.A lady on the estate had grown up and known the parents from her schooldays, they had been best friends and whilst I enabled the community to provide some practical help indirectly to the family I was able to provide direct support to the friend throughregular phone calls and signposting to counselling services. We walked, talked and met in the café together on a weekly basis for several weeks, supporting her to ensure she could continue to support the family whilst looking after her wellbeing too.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT – FAMILY (Continued)

So far…The family are adjusting to their new way of life. The father has returned to work through the support of thecommunity helping with childcare.The neighbour and friend has been given some counselling via Cornwall Hospice Care.Community Connect has remained in the background, providing support, from a listening ear to providing practicalinformation and completing grant forms to enable the family to have a holiday in the summer.

ImpactCommunity Connect can play a powerful role supporting the wellbeing for a number of people whilst remaining in thebackground. A community can support itself in a time of crisis very effectively, with minimal intervention through asingle point of access, the Community navigator, who works with a community to strengthen and enable it to deliverthe most effective support required. This reduces the need for additional professional services to be involved trying tosupport from the frontline, via home visits and phone calls often within a short space of time. This approach candisrupt family life and be emotionally exhausting to a family when they need to be given time to grieve, provided withthe information they require in a timely manner, surrounded by the people they know and trust.The family scattered her ashes down by the sea during February half term.To this day, I haven’t met the family.

COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR – FINAL THOUGHTS

Over the past eighteen months, the Community Connect Pilot has clearly demonstrated how people’s wellbeing can be supported at alocalised level through community intervention. The Community has demonstrated how with minimal intervention they can be enabledto offer support through 1:1 and group intervention for minimal cost financially and in time.Working in a smaller more rural community, awareness for the Community Connect initiative is continuing to grow rapidly, whilst in theCity, the growth and development may appear to be slower, however the needs identified have been more complex, many financiallydriven, but people are beginning to grow in confidence which is demonstrated through the number of people stepping forward to offertheir support in local neighbourhoods and through the development of group work within the city.Rural or City ,Community Connect has demonstrated how working with people and their families on a local level in a non medicalsetting provides a more sustainable holistic long term outcome for people’s overall wellbeing evidenced through the results of wellbeingscores. The project has given support for people to make choices best suited to their needs away from General Practice and provide apreventative and self help approach which best suits their needs.

Interventions have varied widely and have included: Carer Support, introductions to groups, exercise opportunities, falls preventionsupport, local buddies and mentors, IT and benefit support, finding local services for gardening, handymen for handrails, signposting tospecialist organisations for housing, debt, counselling, linking people and their talents together to meet a need e.g. someone whoenjoys baking and a memory cafe in need of help with refreshments, but crucially every intervention has been identified and prioritisedby the person to a time frame agreed together through a guided conversation conducted in a non-medicalised setting.Groups have been created where gaps have been identified by people living in the community to fulfil needs e.g. informal self help

groups, skilled people being brought together to create the Repair Café. Individuals have been brought together to lead their owngroups to prevent a dependency being created . Multi agencies have been linked to provide specialist local support e.g. Loss and Griefcafes. Intergenerational work with local schools has been developed providing additional volunteer support in school, lunch clubs,community Christmas cards being made and delivered to the community.

To enable Community Connect to successfully continue requires:Clear points of access for regularly updated information to be available for people to accessFinancial support through local and national funding to enable groups and activities to remain viable.For groups and volunteers to feel valued by the community and the Health profession.To support, review and work together to develop new and existing groups and activities to meet current needs identified by the communityand surgery staff.Continue to maintain and actively work to provide closer links between the Councils, Schools, GP surgeries, groups and Parishioners.

Councils should consider:Creating a Wellbeing programme of support for staff (and councillors) to access in addition to appraisals and E Learning.Developing a cultural shift between employees to create a more supportive and inclusive approach towards colleagues.To encourage staff and councillors to engage more closely together by creating shadowing opportunities and working party.To create local development plans for community connect to continue sustainably, identify and prioritise local needs and funding opportunities.

COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR – FINAL THOUGHTS (Continued)

I have thoroughly enjoyed being an ambassador for theproject. The people I ‘ve met over the past eighteenmonths both in the community and the medicalprofession have continually provided positive feedbackrelating to the benefits which Community Connect hasprovided. Results have demonstrated a significantimprovement to people’s overall feeling of wellbeing, areduction in time spent at GP surgeries and provided alocalised community response for minimal investment.The Community Connect approach has secured funding

from the PCN to continue.

Sharon Nettleton

FURTHER CASE STUDIES

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT -FAMILY

BackgroundDC is fifty years of age with Downs Syndrome and is married to DD with learning needs. They recentlymoved to the area from the Roseland and were referred to Community Connect by the CommunityNavigator working in their previous area. The couple were relocated from a rural village by the councilhousing dept. to enable them to be as independent as possible and closer to DC’s sister who lives inFalmouth. DC enjoys listening to music and spending time with family. There is a care package in placeproviding fifteen hours of care per week to assist with meal preparation, activities and shopping. DD hasrecently had a hip replacement and has been waiting for a care package for the past three weeks followingdischarge from hospital. Unfortunately, no care agencies have capacity and the couple are trying to manageby themselves. Following relocation, the sister has been assisting with paperwork, phone and WiFiconnection and other related moving tasks in addition to regularly caring for their Mother on the Roseland.DC has been feeling low in mood following the move and their partner being in hospital which has led DC tostart over eating. Weight and a lack of mobility have become a major concern. Whilst moving to their newhome has enabled the couple to be more independent it has enabled them to have easy access to the localshop, fish and chip and pizza van services resulting in DC increasing in weight by two stone.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT -FAMILY (Continued)

InterventionDuring my visit to the couple, we were able to discuss which local activities they would enjoy trying. DD has previously enjoyedrepresenting England at bowling with the Disabled games and was keen to try the Indoor short mat bowls group. I spoke with thegroup leader regarding DD’s needs and whilst initially a little apprehensive, they were happy to try to accommodate the coupleand welcome them into their group. I have been able to reassure them that if they found it was becoming too difficult for thegroup to manage, they could contact me with their concerns and I would be able to speak with DD to find an alternative activityto pursue.For DC, we talked about joining the local exercise group. Exercise is not something DC is keen to pursue, but was interested to trybecause there would be music to listen to and I was sure DC would enjoy the upbeat atmosphere. The fitness instructor had nohesitation in DC joining the group.I became aware during my visit, DD and DC had not been registered with the local surgery. Medication for example, required reordering. With permission from DC I spoke to their sister who confirmed they hadn’t been registered with the practice. I raisedthe issue with the surgery, forms were completed and returned. Third party forms were signed the following day by the sister andemergency medication dispensed ensuring essential cardiac and diabetic medication continued. A few days later, I attended theMDT meeting where I was able to highlight the couple to the GP’s who were had not been aware of the couple and their needs.

‘This demonstrates perfectly the importance of having a Community Navigator working alongside the surgery who canidentify people and their needs preventatively and in this situation has prevented a potential medical emergency.’ CarnonDowns GP

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT -FAMILY (Continued)

ProgressThe couple have now attended the surgery for a new patient assessment. I arranged transport to the surgery through the localvolunteer driver scheme enabling them to reach their appointment. I have provided signposting and further group opportunitiesto the sister who has appreciated the support provided through Community Connect during the relocating period. Goodcommunication has been essential to avert a crisis both with the surgery, the family and the care agency. Whilst the originalrequest for support came for one person, to work with DC in isolation would not have been productive and provided only shortterm options. By working with the whole family through a holistic approach, Community Connect has been able to provide longerterm solutions with economic savings to the NHS by supporting a multidisciplinary and preventative approach.

‘You provide the eyes and the ears in the community for the surgery’ Carnon Downs Patient.

There remain a number of challenges within the ‘System’ preventing the couple from being able to socialise and integrate furtherinto the community. The care package isn’t sufficiently flexible and therefore prevents the couple from engaging in local activitieswhich they would benefit from. E.g. DC is scheduled to go swimming in St Austell on a weekly basis for exercise, but frequentlyrefuses to go, however DC would like to try the music and movement group held locally which would cost less to attend,volunteer transport could be accessed therefore reduce care support required by 1 x visit per week. Bowling too, which DDdoesn’t want to attend if DC doesn’t go too, however the care package times are too rigid and prevent DC from being able toattend. Similarly, with lunch groups where the couple could socialise and be provided with a fresh hot meal. The issues have beenraised with ASC and the care agency, but remains ongoing whilst DC awaits reassessment of needs to look at the above options,but this in itself is time consuming and costly. The family and the Community Navigator could provide some simple solutionsavailable within the local community for implementation, but are currently prevented by the system.

Community Connect contact time with the family = 3 hoursONS 1st Week = 11/40 16 weeks = 13/40

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT –INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

BackgroundMJ, 82yrs, attends the surgery 1-2 times per month and was signposted to the project by the surgeryreceptionist. Widowed for almost two years, MJ continues to struggle living alone and having no one to carefor. Their partner had lived with dementia for approx. five years and had become increasingly violent, resultingin being admitted for long term care. Whilst MJ recognises this was the only option they continue to feel guiltyand responsible for their loved one being taken into care so far away (Bodmin). MJ has some immediate familyliving nearby who visit regularly, but MJ finds the evenings particularly difficult and goes to bed at 6.30pm on adaily basis to read to avoid sitting in the living room staring at the partner’s favourite chair. Hobbies in the pasthave included baking and socialising.

InterventionMJ made direct contact with me to arrange a home visit, recognising they wanted to make some changes totheir lifestyle, but weren’t too sure how to make this happen. I was able to listen to MJ’s story, and how theynow felt useless and without a purpose. Previously MJ had enjoyed going to the local Memory Café with theirpartner and through listening to the story I was able to suggest MJ could help the Memory Café by offering tobake a cake for their twice monthly meetings. MJ sparkled with enthusiasm and began to talk about whichrecipes they could try. MJ asked if there were more possibilities for helping in the community and was keen tohelp bake for the local coffee morning too. MJ agreed to try the local exercise group, something new andbeneficial both physically and socially to enrich their life which could easily be reached by MJ on foot.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT –INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT (Continued)

ProgressMJ bakes cakes on a regular basis for the Memory Café and has become a group volunteer supporting the café by serving teasand their wonderful cake!

MJ attends the exercise group on a weekly basis and has met more people recently bereaved to share stories and experienceswith in addition to keeping fit.

I met BG a few weeks’ later, currently going through the same issues as a carer for a loved one as MJ had described. Withconsents from both sides, I have been able to link BG to MJ to be a telephone buddy offering support and listening ear. MJ wasdelighted to be able to help to support them.

‘I don’t feel quite as useless as I did when you first met me, but I do still enjoy taking a crossword to bed with me in theevenings!’

MJ now has a purpose to their week, with events and groups to attend independent of their family, providing moreconversational points when they do meet with family. Finding recipes for the next batch of cakes to be made provides additionalthings to think about in the late afternoon /evenings. My visit has provided a base for which MJ has been able to make somepositive changes to their life impacting in a positive way on their wellbeing. Low mood continues to improve. The community isbenefitting from additional support and demonstrating how individuals, regardless of age and health can be enabled to help tosupport one another with minimal intervention and financial investment.

ONS Scores1st contact = 11/30, Anxiety 7/102nd contact = 19/30 Anxiety 5/103rd contact = 21/30 Anxiety 4/10

Contact Time = 1.45hrs

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT –COMMUNITY – ‘TALKING CAFES’ - Truro

BackgroundFollowing a survey carried out by the Community Development Officer in November 2018 in the Hendra area, the surveyhighlighted a need for somewhere in the area for people to be able to meet and be able to come together to meet socially, theHendra Talking Café was created. The café held its first meeting in April 2019 and comprised of local senior residents and a fewlocal Truro people who came to hear about the group and began to meet twice monthly. One of the main aims was to ensure thegroup could continue and become self-sustaining with minimum input from the Community Navigator. Over the following fourmonths, the group steadily grew to average ten people attending most sessions. Two café members came forward offering tohelp with hosting the events, which reduced any form of dependency being created for the Community Navigator to attend everysession. The RVS, with funding and volunteer training available were linked in to the café and began to assist with overseeing thegroup. A small grant was sourced from the council to assist with room hire and set up charges.

InterventionIn July, Café members raised issues regarding meeting in the hall including access being difficult due to steps, poor acousticsleading to hearing issues for some members and going forward, the cost for hall hire. The group decided they would like to trymeeting in the local coffee shop as an alternative venue during August. Whilst this would increase refreshment costs, membersfelt it would outweigh hall hire charges and small refreshment charges.The group Coordinators quickly decided they wanted to spread the success of the group to more cafes in Truro extendingprovision by offering a choice of days, times and venues to people who may feel lonely in the wider community. Taking directionfrom the group, a further five independent cafes in Truro were sourced with sessions covering Monday to Friday. Some cafeswere keen to subscribe to the national Chatty Café scheme too.Two additional coordinators, regular attendees of the scheme, were identified to help support the additional venues. A monthlyrota has been created and café owners are being encouraged to offer support by talking to people who come to join the tablesset aside on a weekly basis for the project.

CASE STUDY OUTLINING THE IMPACT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROJECT –COMMUNITY – ‘TALKING CAFES’ – Truro (Continued)

ProgressCafé numbers fluctuate, but people are beginning to attend on a regular basis at several venues. These include carers who join a table withtheir cared for, people recently bereaved, people with mental health issues, people new to the area and visitors to the city.

‘This is one of the only times in the week I get to have a proper conversation with someone’. (Tony, a carer for his partner living withdementia).

Coordinators have sometimes found the level of need presenting at the cafes to be quite demanding, so we have introduced monthlyfeedback and rota planning sessions. We have found low uptake for afternoon sessions and therefore have reduced these sessions to one perweek. The Tuesday group have introduced table games to the session and Thursday sessions focus on book swaps and table quizzes. Toenable the sessions to continue successfully, I have returned to attending a weekly session enabling me to monitor demand for the service,keep in close contact with café owners and seek to recruit more coordinators. The RVS have registered the groups to be part of their Microgroups programme.I’m currently in discussion with the charity Mind, to see how we can work together to support the cafes into the future by providing mentalhealth information sessions for coordinators and additional volunteers. Central to all the discussions taking place are the Coordinators andthe people attending the cafes, supporting them and their wellbeing ensuring they feel valued members of the Community.

By working collaboratively, we can ensure the cafes remain sustainable into the future without being dependant on a specific funding streamto provide ongoing support. Financial and volunteer support and management is shared therefore reducing costs further.

Week 8 FiguresSet up costs =011 x people PW supported by Talking Tables (Average) = 44 PMInput from Community Navigator = 2.5 hrs PW (Expected to reduce after 6 months)Community Connectors = 4

‘I’m so pleased to hear Truro City Council are trying to tackle some of the issues in the City and want to bring back a Community Spirit intoTruro’

CASE STUDY TQ

BackgroundIn their mid-80's, with a history of TIA's, IBS and reduced mobility. Living alone following the death of their partner several years ago. Family live in the area, and visit when time allows them to. I met TQ during a visit to the Memory Cafe where it was requested for me to visit them at home. TQ was keen to point out to me they didn't really have a memory problem, but attended the group because it was local and offered companionship. I visited TQ at home the following week where TQ talked about how low in mood they were feeling following their last TIA and frustrated by their balance and confidence in walking had not completely returned. During the conversation, TQ went on to discuss how debilitating their IBS had become, affecting their diet, continence and ability to go out. I asked why TQ hadn't raised this with her GP, whom they see on a regular basis following their TIA. TQ explained how they felt a burden to the GP and didn't want to waste any more of his time.

Intervention We agreed TQ would try, if feeling well enough, going to the Wellbeing hub with me the following week, and for me to discuss with the community matron their IBS management, applying for AA and to think about joining the local falls prevention group. TQ attended the wellbeing hub which they really enjoyed; I introduced TQ to the Community Matron who was able to give TQ the opportunity for a 1:1 consultation to discuss their IBS and prescribe alternative medication and refer them to the continence advisor for suitable pads (TQ had been managing by cutting up old towels to use at home).

Progress TQ continues to attend the Wellbeing hub on a weekly basis which TQ very much enjoys. A volunteer (Previously supported by Community Connect) from the group now provides TQ with transport. TQ has been awarded lower rate AA and uses some of the money to pay for the local falls prevention class and transport to access the group. I have linked TQ to a local member of the falls group living nearby so they can car share to reduce costs. TQ's confidence has grown, their mobility has improved and no longer does TQ feel low in mood. I met TQ one morning recently in Truro. TQ had travelled there by bus with their walker to go to Marks and Spencer, a shop they hadn't visited for two years, because TQ didn't have the confidence to visit the city alone.

'You've given me back a purpose to get up again every morning, thank you. '

Some very simple interventions have improved the health and wellbeing of TQ and increased TQ's independence. The community have provided not only more social opportunities, but a new locally based friendship circle which TQ has found invaluable. The surgery has seen a reduction in appointments; no further TIA's to date and reduced risk of falls.

CASE STUDY ST

BackgroundST in mid-80's signposted to the project by the GP following a history of falls. Lives alone in an isolated area with their dog. ST's partnerhas been admitted recently into long term care. They have no children and next of kin live in the north of England. I met ST followingdischarge from RCHT into a local care home whilst awaiting a package of care to be set up, so we had an opportunity to discuss whatwould be helpful to ST on returning home and how the community could help at the present time. ST went home a few days later,which is where I next met with them. We discussed possible support with the dog, lunch groups and the carers support group which STwas keen to try. During the visit I noticed the phone lead lay across the rug in the centre of the room and ST informed me they had towear an old set of glasses because the current set had been broken prior to the first fall. ST went on to explain carers, the communityphysio and OT had raised concerns about both issues but had failed to find a solution. With permission from ST I placed the wire underthe rug as a short term solution to reduce the risk of a further fall and agreed to take the broken glasses for repair the following day. Byusing my phone I was able to show ST alternative phone options which have mobile handsets available on the high street to purchase.

InterventionGlasses taken to the optician for repair and returned, new phone purchased with ST's consent and installed ensuring ST was completelyhappy able to use it before leaving her. The local Carers support group were contacted and they have since contacted ST to invite her totheir next group meeting. Home support information provided, ST was happy to accept some support which would enable them toremain independent at home. Additional regular support will enable ST to continue to carry out light tasks at home, but prevent herfrom overbalancing whilst carrying out some household tasks. ST has been referred and contacted by iCareiMove who has invited themto join a falls prevention class. ST plans to join the next community lunch and feels ready to start socialising again. Carers support groupcontacted ST to invite to their next meeting; ST has joined the group and has received several follow up calls from the group checking ontheir wellbeing.

ProgressST has reported no further falls post discharge, the home visit enabled interventions to be made to prevent further re admission whichhave previously been overlooked. By attending the community lunch groups and the carers group has enabled ST to begin regainingconfidence, reduce her feeling of isolation and grief following the decision for her husband to remain in long term care. This is reducingthe dependency on surgery time from being a high user of the service to moderate user within a short time following intervention. Wewould anticipate this reducing further over the coming months with ST making new friends and life for themselves within thecommunity following their support and encouragement.

CASE STUDY PSBackgroundPS, late 50's, lives alone and has suffered from multiple mental health issues for most of their life which they believe started after being sexuallyabused by their father as a child.. High intensity service user, PS was signposted for support from their G.P who didn't know who could offer furthersupport in the community. The Social Prescriber felt there was little they could offer being surgery and appointment based. Due to the complexity ofPS's Mental health issues and unpredictable nature, I was advised not to make a home visit alone, but decided to offer a telephone consultation. PSexplained the biggest issue currently affecting their wellbeing and high anxiety levels has come about whilst awaiting their PIP review. PS has nofamily, but has a 15 hour package of care for support with shopping and meal preparation. PS is socially isolated and can't cope with group activities,but enjoys reading and visiting the library. PS required a lot of reassurance feeling they have been let down so many times in the past which has ledto being very untrusting of people.

InterventionI agreed to support PS by finding out who could support PS whilst going through the PIP review. I quickly found this was difficult to navigate my wayaround 'The system'. Pentreath cannot support a person with Autism in addition to Mental Health issues, Spectrum cannot offer support tosomeone with a Mental health diagnosis in addition to Autism. The care agency supporting PS were unsure where to find support too. A clinicalPsychologist offered valuable support and signposting which I was then able to summarise and send to PS in a letter. Throughout the week Ireceived phone calls from PS wanting reassurance that I hadn't abandoned them, but always very thankful for my support.

ProgressWhilst PS had letters of support from the GP for the review, due to increasing anxiety levels, PS decided to seek an up to date assessment and reportfrom a Psychiatrist to support them at review which they paid to have privately. The care worker was due to accompany PS to the review, but twoweeks' prior to review left the care organisation and hadn't been replaced. 24hours prior to the assessment PS called me in a state of distressinforming me of the current situation. I contacted the care agency and it was agreed a carer would accompany PS to the review. The outcome is stillawaited. PS clearly demonstrates the need for additional community support for people with mental health issues. PS remains socially isolated;there are so few opportunities for PS to feel accepted by the community. PS has been invited to become part of the Coosebean conservationproject, but declines group meetings due to having Autism and being unable to cope in a group environment. PS has required and continues to needtime to talk with someone and frequently finds their only support comes by calling the Samaritans. PS acknowledges the GP and the surgery don'thold all the solutions and feels whilst they have had the support through Community Connect the visits to the surgery have reduced. Work isongoing to find further sustainable support in the community for people like PS to access. Continued Mental health awareness through the mediaand personal stories will gradually help to break down the barriers experienced by people like PS, but specialist community Mental healthprofessionals are urgently needed to support not only individuals, but local community groups by offering training and support to enable localpeople with mental health issues to be better supported within their local community.

'I'm not in a wheelchair or blind, but my mental health is hidden. This review is making me feel suicidal. I'm weary of trying to find people whocan help me. I can't help the fact I have autism and mental health issues. I've been feeling so bad, but no one has been able to help me like you. Ihope you know how grateful I am'.

CASE STUDY J

BackgroundMrs S is a lady in her mid 80’s who asked if I could meet with her to see if there maybe additional support available for her as she seeksto remain independently living at home and not be a burden to her family. Mrs S has lived in her village almost all her life and feels thereis no longer a community spirit or people to call upon if needed. She would enjoy meeting people on a daily basis at the village shopand then more lately on the free bus to ASDA where she looked forward to her weekly catch up with friends from the neighbourhoodon the bus more than she did doing the shopping. However, now this has gone, the weekly beetle drive has stopped, coffee morningscome and go, she rarely sees people through the week. Family visit at the weekends. On meeting Mrs S at home, it became clear she isat risk of falling and was proud to announce that she is very well known to the falls service! Mrs S was climbing into the loft hatch whenI arrived, something she has been doing on a regular basis. When she was safely down, Mrs S talked about falling quite frequently, lastlyin the kitchen, but has not had a serious fall to date. Mrs S has mastered the internet and orders not only her shopping online, but 2 ofthe neighbours shopping too ,to be delivered at the same time.

InterventionThink about attending the falls prevention class, Mrs S has declined attending such a group with the falls service in the past, but agreedto the I Care I Move Leader phoning her to give her more information to think about it. Contacting the local church to discuss thepossibility of re starting the beetle drive group.

ProgressThe Methodist church is looking at starting the beetle group with their members Mrs S attended the falls prevention class with herdaughter and loved it so much she called the volunteer transport scheme independently to arrange future transport for attending. Bygoing to the group she is not only learning how to avoid a serious fall, but socialising and making new friends too. Mrs S didn’t feelpressurised to attended, the group runs throughout the year, not just as a course, therefore Mrs S is more likely to continue to attend ona regular basis. ‘The falls team are due to visit me next week, I can’t wait to tell them about what I’m doing. Maybe they will give mesome brownie points’

CASE STUDY PB

BackgroundMrs PB is a 94 year old lady recently discharged from RCHT after being admitted 3 weeks previously with heart failure. Referred byCommunity Matron for general support and to try to ensure PB maintains care package set up for a daily visit to. assist with personalcare and basic household chores.

InterventionI arranged to meet PB at home, a large property, surrounded by second home owners and therefore PB can feel quite isolated at times.PB is a very independent lady who has lived at the property for 45 years. Now widowed, PB has two children who are not local but visitregularly and she feels are trying to organise her following her discharge from hospital some of which she agrees with, but other thingssuch as giving up driving she refuses to want to do. PB has agreed to go into respite care for 2 weeks, but mostly to appease the familyand definitely doesn’t wish to stay on a permanent basis. PB’s main companion is her dog. Previously she enjoyed boating and playinggolf.

PB’s main goals are to remain as independent as possible and understands this may involve having some additional support at homewhich will take a little time adjusting to, but is willing to give it a try. We agreed For PB to join an exercise group to help regain somestrength before going to the putting green. For me to request AA forms and for an Age UK volunteer to assist with completing. If this issuccessful it will assist PB to pay for carers. To think about joining the Feock lunch club

ProgressPB drove herself to the exercise group and plans to attend regularly AA forms completed and awaiting the outcome. Feock Lunch clubcontacted and they are arranging transport for PB to attend next month which ensures PB has social interaction and a hot meal. PB hascontinued to have carer visits on a daily basis and has begun to see the benefits from having a daily visit which will prevent furtherunplanned hospital admission, ensure medication is taken at the correct time and monitor PB’s health so if any decline is noticed by thecarers it can be reported in immediately to the community nurse team.

CASE STUDY MT

BackgroundM.T requested help with information for her neighbour, a carer, struggling to cope with looking after her husband living with Dementia.M.T thought there were Admiral nurses in the county but had failed to find information about them online.

InterventionHome visit wasn’t felt necessary at this stage. Information provided on: Confirmed Admiral Nurses no longer work in the county;Contact details for Dementia Care Practitioner provided; Carers group contact details provided

ProgressAppointment has been made with Dementia Care Practitioner to make a home visit after which the lady will contact me should furtherinformation be helpful. This should have prevented an additional time, call or visit to the surgery for the same information. In turn, M.Tmay be passing the information to local people in the community and therefore becoming an ‘Informal’ signposter and communityeducator

CASE STUDY IS

BackgroundI.S a lady in her mid 80’s, was referred by the Community Matron for support to meet people and to discuss joining the Wellbeing café. Followingseveral failed attempts by phone to contact the lady, I decided to try knocking on the lady’s door to introduce myself, which proved to be successful.I.S invited me in and appeared to be very happy to receive a visitor. During our conversation I.S explained how she had originally lived in CarnonDowns but had been persuaded a few years’ ago to move to Truro to be nearer to her daughter. Unfortunately, I.S didn’t feel settled living in thecity and rarely saw her daughter, so decided 6 months’ ago to return to Carnon Downs. Currently I.S enjoys completing puzzles, using her I pad andoccasionally attending the local coffee morning. Shortly before Christmas, I.S had been prescribed antidepressants but they made her feel unsteadyon her feet and with a fear of falling, decided not to continue with them. I.S feels she has multiple health conditions which are to be expected at hertime of life and has resigned herself to staying at home for much of the day and weeks. I.S explained she has never enjoyed been part of big groupsand has never wanted to join community groups.

I.S is in receipt of Pension Credit and unsure if she receives Attendance Allowance, but has very little money to pay for ‘Extras’ such as communitytransport or taxis. I wanted to explore this a little further and I.S explained that much of her money was spent on Incontinence pads and continuedto explain how her fear of having ‘An accident’, prevented her from wanting to go out very far, she had no idea pads might be available onprescription and would save her a lot of money.

I noticed during my visit, how I.S was a little unsteady on her and furniture walking whilst moving around her home. I.S explained she feared havinghandrails fitted because she was in a rented property and the thought the landlord could evict her for damaging the property.

InterventionI would speak to the community nurse team for a continence assessment and prescription for pads. Incontinence is preventing I.S from integratinginto the wider community through group activity. Increasing withdrawal from the community is resulting in depression and heightening I.Sperception for being generally unwell. In addition, the incontinence may be causing skin breakdown, so for the community nurse team to be awareis essential.

I would speak to Housing Options regarding handrails in a rental property. I.S is becoming increasingly frail and by intervening and signposting forthe supply of hand and grab rails could prevent falls, unplanned admission and emergency teams being called on. We would go together to meet alady, feeling isolated and living nearby for afternoon tea the following week. This is a way of helping I.S to engage with people again which longerterm may help her to engage with the wellbeing café and overall, feel reconnected with the community .

ProgressI.S has received a benefit check from Age UK. Housing Options have arranged to visit to look at handrail provision and to reassure I.S on tenant’srights and landlords obligations for the fitting of essential rails and equipment. Continence assessment requested. Afternoon was arranged but I.Scancelled due to feeling unwell on the day. The lady we were due to visit has offered to contact I.S by phone for a chat and to make a future date formeeting up.

CASE STUDY SW

BackgroundSW is a 72 yr old lady suffering from a terminal illness for the past 18 months and referred by her GP who has become increasingly concerned forher husband’s wellbeing, SW’s main carer. My first contact will Mr W was met with a polite but cold response, so I arranged to call again in the newyear. My second call Mr W agreed to me calling in to meet him and his wife, but said, ‘You can come, but I don’t see how you can help us’.

During my visit, I discovered the couple moved to Cornwall forty years ago from Hertfordshire to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle. They have enjoyeddiving, walking and being part of the local community. Over the years, they feel the community spirit has disappeared and barely see theirneighbours. The couple have two children living in Cornwall who they see several times a month, but since S ‘s diagnosis they feel increasinglyisolated, not wishing to ask for help or where to look for it. Mr W appeared to be struggling with caring for S and maintaining the home and his ownwellbeing. His passion is for his motorbike which he would love to have an opportunity to take out for a spin, but doesn’t feel he can trust anyone tocare for her and feels guilty if he were to leave S for his own pursuits. It became apparent the couple required support in several areas. Mr W wouldprefer to continue to manage home and personal care for his wife himself, but cooking and finding food S can now eat is difficult.

InterventionI should order and complete AA forms . The additional money will help to pay for additional care, particularly at night. Currently Mr W is awokenseveral times a night to deal with care needs. Broken nights are increasing demands upon Mr W, potentially reaching carers breakdown. If Mr W canaccess paid care support, it will reduce unplanned hospital admission, improve his wellbeing and enable Mrs W to remain at home which is herpreferred place to remain.

Refer S to ASC for an OT assessment for handrails to assist with going out together in the car every morning to see the sea which will continue toretain wellbeing for the couple and reduce the risk of falls for both which would involve unplanned hospital admission, support from ASC anddistress to the couple. Information provided for Cornwall Mobility and Tremorvah Industries to ensure the couple are aware of the types ofequipment which is available and may help to improve their lifestyle. Brochure requested for Specialist Liquid and soft diet meals. Mr W wasunaware of these meals and the home delivery service available to him. The meals would ensure a safe, balanced nutritious diet for Mrs W. Requestto Community Matron for home visit to review for a SALT assessment. Mrs W can no longer receiving a nutritious diet, unable to swallowmedication and in danger of choking which would result in the emergency services being called out and a great deal of distress to the couple. Mr Wwould try going for a walk if someone from the community came to sit with his wife and share local news together, so when the weather improveshe may think about taking his motorbike out for a spin.

ProgressMatron has arranged to carry out a home visit to review care needs for Mrs W AA forms have arrived and will be completed this week TheWomen’s guild have arranged for a member to pop by regularly. I have suggested they might provide a small casserole or similar for Mr Woccasionally Wiltshire Farm food brochure has arrived Carers card completed for Mr W to carry with him should he incur an unplanned hospitaladmission alerting hospital staff to Mr W being a carer.

CASE STUDY PS

BackgroundPS is a man in his early seventies with a history of diabetes, heart failure and suffering with leg ulcers which reduces his mobility. Referred byCommunity Matron for some additional support over the Festive period.

PS lives alone following divorce from his second wife in a rented bungalow. Has a son living locally, but they have very little contact. PS worked as acommercial pilot for all his working life which he really enjoyed, flying jumbo jets across the world. In latter years he worked on transatlantic flightsflying a private jet for the rich and famous. Now he spends a lot of time watching television and having a drink (Or two). He tries to attend anexercise group on Mondays. PS still drives and says ‘The day they stop me from driving will be the end for P’.

InterventionI initially met PS at the Wellbeing café, which he likes to attend on a weekly basis. We talked about Christmas and he explained he would bespending Christmas alone at home. He wasn’t keen to go out for lunch because it would mean sitting alone and that would make him feel worse.However, what he said he would like was to have a Christmas dinner brought to him at home to enjoy. We agreed I would contact Carnon Inn to seeif they could deliver a Christmas Lunch. For me to visit PS at home during Christmas week

ProgressCarnon Inn provided a Christmas Lunch free of charge delivered by two members of staff who enjoyed pulling a cracker or 2 before leaving. PS feltvalued by the community and this has turned what was to be a negative memory for Christmas 2018 into a happy memory. Home visit carried out. Igave PS a small Christmas present provided by the Memory Café. With tears coming down his face he said, ’Thank you, that’s the first present I’vereceived in over 2 years either for Christmas or my birthday’. PS is beginning to feel connected with the local community. He can see as he growsolder there is an increasing need to be connected to people and services locally.PS has chosen in the past, to be a loner, so integration has been achallenge, but he is gradually not only attending the wellbeing café, but actively participating with quizzes, activities and speaking with othermembers of the group.

Info provided on local SAFA group (Par, PS feels it’s too far to travel). PS to join a falls prevention class. By attending the class. PS will meet morepeople, increase mobility which will improve blood circulation and therefore assist with healing of leg ulcers, reduce the risk of falls, which is greatdue to leg dressings preventing leg movement. Should PS have a fall it would result in further demands upon the NHS for care, hospital admissionand demands for intervention by ASC /packages of care. However, at the beginning of Jan, PS received notification his tenancy was coming to an endand wouldn’t be renewed. He has found a new place to live and will join the exercise group once he has moved into his new home.

CASE STUDY BT

BackgroundMr T is an 87 yr old gentleman referred to the project by a surgery receptionist, who felt Mr T may benefit from some additional support followingthe recent death of his wife. Mr T chose to meet with me at a local event where he began to explain how he had been married for sixty nine yearsand although his wife had been poorly for some while, he had not been aware until a few days before she died, so it had come as a great shock.Originally from South London, Mr and Mrs T had moved to Cornwall over forty years’ ago.They had no children, but were active members in the past, of the local church. Mr T had worked as a car mechanic all his working life but his realpassion was for music and art.

Mr T explained the evenings and night time were when he missed his wife the most. We talked about trying to play the organ again during theevening to help fill the void, but Mr T said he hadn’t played for a very long time and wasn’t sure if he could because his fingers were quite stiff. Heinvited me to visit him at home to see some of his paintings, so later in the week I called by. On my approach I could hear the sound of organ musicradiating from the bungalow, it sounded beautiful, so I stayed outside for a while just to listen some more before knocking on the door.

Mr T seemed pleased to see me and very keen for me to listen to him play a piece from the musicals. He was even more excited when I offered tofilm him playing on my phone and play it back to him. This appeared to give him great pleasure seeing how modern technology works. During myvisit, Mr T showed me some of his art work and he wondered if he might try painting again once the weather improved.

InterventionTo explore the possibility of Mr T demonstrating some of his art techniques to the local scout group, which is providing him with a new focus as heplans how he could run the session and what he will need. To attend the local lunch club together, to give Mr T confidence in going out alone andensure he has a hot meal, he finds cooking difficult to master. Find a carpet cleaner Mr T could borrow/ rent. Mr T is now ready to have a ‘Springclean’ and sort out some of his wife’s possessions. Introduce to the local engineering group and Old Cornish Society. These groups are held in theevening and would help Mr T to feel less lonely at night time. Arrange for a volunteer to help to complete AA forms with Mr T to enable him to havesome additional money to support him to find a cleaner and a gardener.

ProgressMr T and I attended lunch club together, where he met an old friend. He enjoyed himself so much he has decided to go again and donate one of hispaintings to the raffle. In addition, Mr T has decided if he finds groupsoffering a meal he doesn’t have to worry about shopping and preparing meals quite so much and has taken himself to a church lunch, Nina’s caféand community lunch club. Along the way he is meeting old and new friends, which is helping him to cope with the loss of his wife, eat a nutritiousdiet and gaining invitations to more social clubs and meals in people’s homes. Mr T’s ‘Neediness’ appears to be reducing which is helping him tofocus less on his health conditions and more on his wellbeing.

‘Some men choose to stay in mourning when their wife dies and never come out of it, but I’m determined to not let that happen to me’. Mr T ‘I’vereally enjoyed myself here today. Where shall we go next week?’ Mr T after lunch club

CASE STUDY SB

BackgroundS.B self-referred after we met at the local coffee morning in Carnon Downs for support with a PIP appeal for her husband. S.B’s husband has a braintumour and memory loss and they depend on PIP to live.

InterventionInformation provided on - Age UK for a benefit check and support with the PIP appeal which is alleviating stress being felt by S.B which could in part,become responsible for carer breakdown, causing further demands on GP services. S.B can feel better supported by the community when at timesas a carer she can feel very isolated. Local carers group which provides important self support and a chance to meet with people who areempathetic and involves no further cost Dementia Care Practitioner contact details provided, which gives an additional person to provide supportoutside of the surgery, therefore preventing additional GP time being allocated to provide carers support.

CASE STUDY BH

BackgroundBH, in their late 70’s, was signposted to Community Connect via the Dementia Care Practitioner because she had been concerned for the person’swellbeing following a recent visit and felt BH would benefit from being introduced to some local groups and activities.

When I contacted BH, they appeared to be quite distressed, finding it very difficult to cope as a carer for their partner living with dementia, notreally understanding how dementia can affect a person and what to expect as time goes on. BH preferred for us to meet outside of the house andduring the conversation found out BH likes walking, so we arranged to meet at Treliske to go for a walk and talk.

On the morning we met, BH talked about losing friends locally following the partner receiving a diagnosis of vascular dementia, not understandingthe disease, no family and feeling in a very dark place. In the past, the H’s had tried attending a local lunch club, but due to some dietary needs, feltthey were a nuisance and haven’t returned. BH explained how the change in the partner’s behaviour made them feel they couldn’t cope for verymuch longer. The example they gave was from the previous evening when a rise in tension from a repetitive conversation had led them to walkoutside in the pouring rain, into the garden with a carrier bag over their head to have a cry and calm down.

InterventionWe agreed, we would visit the Memory café together and meet the lady who leads the local carers support group. I would provide further readingmaterial relating to Dementia to help BH gain a better understanding of the disease. Link BH with a local lady for regular walks together along theDevoran Trail. BH would join me for lunch at the next Meet and Eat. I would speak to Falmouth Day Centre to look at the possibility of increasing thenumber of days they cared for attends.

ProgressWe have visited the Memory café together and met Barbara from the carers group. BH plans to join the group at their next meeting which willprovide an opportunity to meet people in a similar situation, share experiences and offer support, preventing carers breakdown.

BH and Pat have been in contact and arranged to go walking together. Talking, socialising and being able to exercise with someone in thecommunity will be fantastic for BH’s overall wellbeing.

Martin, manager from the day centre has arranged with BH for an increase in day care provision. The day centre had not been aware of the currenthome situation and will now be actively monitoring the situation, offering further support when required, informing the GP if concerns areraised.We’re planning a lunch and learn session with BH’s friends to learn more about Dementia and to become Dementia friends.

CASE STUDY PM

Backgroundin their early 80's,recovering from treatment for cancer and suffering with depression, was signposted to the project by their GP for additionalsupport. I arranged to visit PM at home, mostly via text because I discovered PM has suffers from hearing loss and finds it very difficult to hold aconversation over the phone. I spent two hours listening to PM's story which came pouring out, estranged from the daughter for many years,currently going through a divorce, PM's partner left last year to set up home with a new partner and more...PM can still drive and meets with agroup of friends on a weekly basis, elderly neighbours have moved and new people have moved into the road who PM rarely sees, so feels veryisolated for much of the time, dwelling on the divorce and recent treatment for cancer. PM used to attend a local sewing group, but the new andpreferred way for setting out the chairs for meetings has meant with PM's hearing loss she can no longer follow conversations and decided to leavethe group. During the conversation, PM talked about all the volunteering work they had undertaken in the past and had enjoyed meeting peoplethrough it.

InterventionI would contact the Wellbeing cafe who were in need of more volunteers for PM to go along and visit the cafe , meet the volunteers to think aboutbecoming involved. So far...Mary a volunteer from the cafe contacted PM to invite her to come along and meet everyone.

ProgressPM now volunteers on a weekly basis and whilst volunteering is supporting members of the community who are members of the cafe and in returnis finding support for themselves through meeting and getting to know the other volunteers creating a new friendship group. A volunteer Sue, hasbecome first emergency contact for PM's personal alarm without which she was going to cancel the service. PM in return has gone on to support alady living locally who wanted someone to have a walk with on a regular basis. They now meet to walk together on a weekly basis. Through tearsPM says 'I cannot believe and thank everyone enough for their kindness, for me I don't deserve it and I feel so much better'

CASE STUDY AB

BackgroundAB is in her early 70’s and has been living on the Rosedale estate for over 20 yrs. They have no family contact. For many of those years she has beena carer for a friend living close by. They have been actively involved with volunteering for the RVS winning the Queens award for services forvolunteering. Last year the cared for, passed away and AB found themselves feeling very alone.A series of ill health followed and AB found themselves a frequent visitor to see their GP. With no further medical intervention necessary, AB wasreferred to the Social prescriber who referred onto the Community Connect project.

InterventionI contacted AB by phone who told me they would like to become more involved locally, but wasn’t too sure where to start, but felt they wouldparticularly like to help in a befriending capacity. I told AB about the work being carried out by the resident’s association of Rosedale which includeschecking on the older people living in the community. AB felt she would like to be involved and I linked her to J, the chairperson for the association.They are now in regular contact with one another.

ProgressJ has been a great support for AB and AB is now feeling well enough to help with preparation for the resident’s summer fete and helping to set up atalking café in the City Inn by delivering invitations to the older people in the community. AB has recently suffered with a virus again and contactedthe local taxi driver living on the estate to take her to the local shop to buy some essential groceries. When the driver arrived, he offered to take theshopping list and buy the groceries himself so that she could stay warm indoors. The driver returned with the goods and made no charge for thejourney time. In addition, he contacted his neighbour who prepared and cooked some meals for AB and took them over to her. AB is now feelingmuch better and plans to attend the next resident’s association meeting, where she will be able to find out about what’s happening in hercommunity and have the opportunity to meet more residents. Community Connect has now been in touch with the driver to thank him and we areworking together to be able to offer local residents transport to come to the talking café using his taxi which is not only of benefit to the people, butalso in supporting a local person and their business to continue to thrive and support their family.

CASE STUDY FS

BackgroundThis person lives independently at home with minimal support despite being in their late 90's. The Community Matron made a request for me tocontact the person to see if they felt they could benefit form additional support provided by the local community. FS has lived in the village for mostof their life in the same house, they have been widowed for many years and have no children. During the war, FS had served as an officer. FSexplained during my visit, how they have always led a very active life, enjoyed been part of the local community but more recently, foundthemselves slowing down due to tiredness which has resulted in them not going out as frequently. They pride themselves on keeping their houseand garden spotless and are reluctant to have more assistance. Currently they have a local lady assist with some cleaning on a weekly basis and agardener in the summer months.

InterventionI would take FS to the Wellbeing cafe the following week . When the day came, FS was ready and waiting by the door of their home to go out.During the two mile journey, FS was amazed to see so many changes to the area, pointed out places they had visited in the past , where friends atone time had lived, who had owned shops and where fields had been turned into housing developments. On arrival, a volunteer from the cafe wasthere ready and waiting to greet FS, making her feel welcome and introducing her to various members of the cafe. FS was surprised to see so manyfamiliar faces and soon felt 'At home'.

ProgressFS has continued to attend the cafe every week finding just a short outing lasting 2 hours doesn't make them feel too tired. The volunteer driversnow take FS collecting an old friend who also attends the cafe along the way, so they love having the journey time to talk together and sharestories, which enriches the weekly outing . They have even swapped phone numbers and are very grateful for having the opportunity to becomereacquainted. Drivers have an opportunity to pass on observations made about a person transported which maybe relevant to the nursing team,e.g changes in home situation, walking, health information gathered during the journey therefore helping to ensure early intervention can takeplace if necessary to prevent a deterioration in a person's health. FS has become a well loved member of the cafe, with lots of stories to shareeveryone. FS would like to now try attending the local lunch club and whilst nervous to begin with, loves the volunteer driving scheme. Thevolunteers from the cafe have introduced FS to Active Plus who are helping the group to create memory sticks for friends and family with their oldphotographs and press cuttings which FS is really enjoying along with the tea and cake. FS keeps the group and the volunteers in order, it hasn'ttaken long for the old FS to shine through!

CASE STUDY MG

Backgroundin their mid 80's, requested support from the project during a visit I made to the Memory Cafe. I arranged to visit MG at home a few days later. Justbefore Christmas, MG had suffered from a mild stroke which had left them feeling venerable and frustrated that they were no longer able to carryout all the jobs around the home and socialise as much as they had done previously. They explained their IBS has escalated leaving them unable toeat properly or leave the house at times. The combination of health issues had left them with feeling depression had begun to take hold and theyfelt generally very low in mood, so they had joined the local Memory cafe for somewhere to go and meet with others, not really due to memoryissues. MG has two children living in Cornwall who visit regularly at the weekends, but the weeks can feel very long at times. Before retiring MG andtheir partner had run a smallholding. MG still loves the garden and spends as much time as possible in the greenhouse and helping the gardenerthey now employ to help with maintenance. MG tries to be as independent as possible, not wanting to be a burden to the children.

InterventionMG and I would visit the Wellbeing cafe together the following week, request help from Age UK to apply for A.A , think about attending a lunch club.

ProgressI discovered from the GP by attending the monthly MDT meeting, MG had suffered a TIA not a stroke. The GP has since explained this to MG andwhat it means. The Community Matron has been able to discuss MG's IBS with her in private at the cafe and to look at an alternative treatmentplan. We attended the Wellbeing cafe and MG attends regularly . A volunteer from the cafe offered to take MG home and since then they havebecome friends and travel together every week. They are planning to go to the local lunch club and visit the garden centre together in the nearfuture. MG continues to attend the Memory cafe. By attending the cafes and having additional activities provided by people in the localcommunity during the week, gives MG something to look forward to on Sunday evenings. Combined with meeting the volunteer and forming anew friendship, MG's feeling of wellbeing has doubled.

CASE STUDY JR

BackgroundWhilst attending a local lunch club, JR , a person in their late 80's,passed me an old business card with their contact number handwritten on thereverse saying 'Please can you give me a call, I've been hoping to see you, I have some things I would to talk to you about'. We had previously met ata local coffee morning. The following day I called and arranged to meet JR at their home On the approach to the house, I noted the path was brokenand very uneven, the house was looking 'Tired' and in need of some tlc. Inside the house was clean and tidy, with large and dated storage heaters.The place felt cold. JR explained they had recently been diagnosed with dementia and had their driving licence taken away temporarily, but whilst ithad now been returned, they were feeling they should start to make plans and prepare for the future. They have no living relatives. Originally fromSouth London, they had married and spent their married life living in Hertfordshire where JR became a manager of a building society (Somethingthey must still strongly identify with and be very proud of by using old business cards which are over 40 years' old) JR took early retirement andmoved to Cornwall where they had spent many holidays, to pursue their love of boating. JR has been widowed for seven years. They remain quitesocially active, attending 2 lunch clubs, going out with a friend for lunch twice a week and visiting the local weekly coffee morning . JR has cleanerwho calls weekly, a gardner in the summer months and visits the supermarket with their friend weekly to pick up essentials including cheese andFrench stick. JR explained that they can't cook and buys the French stick which they carefully divide up into 5 portions, fills with cheese to eat in theevenings. The only hot meal they have is when they eat out at the pub or the community lunch groups. JR explained he would like to remain asindependent and live in their current home for as long as possible, but being quite rural, wanted to know how this could be achieved. I was able toprovide information on professional and community services available, from care agencies who could assist with shopping, cooking and personalmeals, home visiting optician schemes, shoe fitting services, bin collection services, ASC, handyman services to the community transportscheme, some more local lunch groups and clubs which may be of interest. JR mentioned how much he had enjoyed in the past furthering hisknowledge in Maritime history through visiting the Maritime museum in Falmouth, but he could no longer feel safe driving to Falmouth.

InterventionTo contact the local Community Connector to see if there was someone living locally who volunteered at the museum who could take JR with themon a regular basis. To visit the Devoran Meet and Eat group when one of the current groups JR attends, closes for the summer break.

ProgressThe Community Connector has found a volunteer to take JR to the museum on a regular basis which will enable him to continue with his hobby ofMaritime History, have a regular trip out with someone from the local community and have lunch at the museum. I have since met another personliving locally who is keen on Maritime history, so have been able to link them together. They plan to meet for the first time in May at the DevoranMeet and Eat lunch club. The local lunch club provides a mutual meeting place, a hot meal and companionship for JR and many others. The GP hasnoted the current home situation, should there be any health concerns, the community are ready to respond to help with shopping and mealprovision. JR has been away on holiday organised by the local lunch club for people living locally to Torquay. The volunteers from the lunch cluborganise travel, accommodation, trips out and all meals for a five day period twice a year. The lunch club members really look forward to theirlunches and holidays, providing them with new friendships, happy memories and always with something to look forward to. One person said, 'Iwouldn't want to live anywhere else'.

CASE STUDY GG

Backgroundin their late 70's, I met through a request made to the project by the Dementia Care Practitioner. GG has lived in Truro all their life. Most of theirworking life had been as a taxi driver, which they loved because it gave them an opportunity to meet so many people. Due to failing eyesight and adiagnosis of Dementia, they had been forced to stop working several years ago and now rarely goes out except to attend the Memory cafe andmedical appointments. GG lives in a flat in the Hendra area of Truro with their partner. They have four children from previous marriages, two ofwhom have additional needs, the family take up a large amount of their time. GG is now registered as partially sighted and doesn't feel safe goingout alone. The couple would like to have more opportunities to socialise with people locally. Previously, there had been coffee mornings held withintheir assisted housing complex, but now there isn't a manager in residence, the community spirit has dwindled away and they know many of theresidents feel socially isolated. We talked about the newly formed residents association for Hendra, the aims and objectives for the community overthe coming months.

InterventionGG would go to the next residents association meeting. GG and their partner were very keen to contact the neighbours and the people livingaround them to organise a coffee morning. They felt a Monday or Tuesday would be the best times, so I booked the local hall, printed out invitationsand GG has helped to distribute in the local neighbourhood.

ProgressGG attended the meeting with their partner, feedback from the invites which have gone out has been positive so we hope to have a goodattendance and the first event. GG's partner has offered to help organise more in the future. To enable to the group to sustainably continue, wehave invited the RVS to become involved and create the first Talking Cafe in Hendra, run by the local people for the local people.

CASE STUDY MM

BackgroundA person in their early 50's who I was asked to contact by the Social Prescriber. The person has an ongoing chronic medical condition which hasresulted in them attending the GP surgery 2-3 times per month , largely for pain management. We arranged to meet in a local coffee shop whereMM explained they moved to Cornwall three years' ago following a difficult divorce. When their health permits, they work free lance proofreading and as a jazz singer, but their passion is for sewing. MM brought examples of their work to show me and they explained how they would liketo be able to inspire other people to take up sewing, mend clothes and recycle garments in the community, but didn't know how to carry the ideasforward.

InterventionMM would e mail across their key objectives for the project and I would seek possible venues and funding to trail the ideas. MM would be keen todemonstrate their ideas with local groups to gather possible interest. MM would attend the Mayor's afternoon tea party to share ideas withpossible funders.

ProgressWe have organised to meet up with more people in the community interested in creating a Repair cafe to amalgamate the two ideas for possiblefunding opportunities. MM has visited a similar group operating in the area to see how it might differ or fits with their vision to risk duplication. Themayor of Truro has been in contact with Cornwall Council who are interested in helping to fund a Repair cafe. MM attended the Mayors tea party,where there were approx forty guests and unplanned, stood up to explain how Community Connect and Social Prescription had helped their mentalwellbeing back on the road to recovery.

CASE STUDY KP

Backgroundwas introduced to me via the Community Matron. In their mid 80's and living alone for the past seven years life is becoming increasingly a challenge.KP suffers from sight loss, diabetes, heart failure and poor mobility. KP has lived in the area for most of their life. They met their partner throughwork which was in a shop in Truro where they were the manager for over thirty years. Throughout their married life they cared for their parents atone point, both they and their partner moved in to the mother's home to enable them to provide round the clock care. Shortly after their motherpassed away, their partner became ill and KP became a carer once more for their partner until they died. They had no children. When time hasallowed, PB has always loved baking and tending the garden, particularly the roses for passers by to enjoy. A local person helps with some tasksaround the home, but KP enjoys being as independent as possible. They like to go out as much as possible to meet with people, including the localWhist club, but poor eye sight is making this increasingly difficult.

InterventionI would contact Eyesight Cornwall to assist with reviewing KP's benefits now that they are registered with sight loss. To find a local gardner to assistwith maintaining the roses for the people to enjoy again this summer, to go to the falls prevention class together.

ProgressEye sight Cornwall have enabled KP to receive the higher rate AA and carry out a full benefit check. The additional money is helping to pay for a localgardener to help tend the roses and pay for the volunteer driving service to take KP to whist, the wellbeing cafe and falls prevention classes.Volunteers from the wellbeing cafe and falls prevention group are there to meet and greet KP when he arrives , offering to guide him around and beable to actively take part in the group activities. KP said, 'I wasn't sure is was going to enjoy it, but I have, thank you so much for bringing me today'.The falls prevention group leader has said 'KP is a joy to have in our group. Since Community Connect began our group is full to bursting'. 'The Whistgroup have provided larger playing cards for KP to use. Together, through groups and local volunteers the community is ensuring KP can continue toenjoy going out and about independently, Health is monitored by the community nurses at the wellbeing cafe and through clear lines ofcommunication which have opened up between the groups involved to ensure KP's wellbeing continues. KP's garden will provide hours of pleasureto the community this summer, KP's thank you to everyone involved.

CASE STUDY RT

Backgroundwas introduced to me by the GP to see if there may be additional support they could access and benefit from. RT lives with their partner both intheir mid 80's with no children, a nephew lives in the London area but they rarely see him. RT is a carer for their spouse who lives with Dementiaand prone to mood swings. RT has chronic renal disease for which they have dialysis twice a week and is likely to increase to three in the very nearfuture. RT worked in social care at a senior level for many years and in their spare time enjoyed cooking and fine dining. I was shown the roomcontaining RT's 200 cookery books. Lately RT has felt too unwell to cook very often, being overwhelmed with tiredness and treatment and its sideeffects. Despite trying numerous ready meals available, none of them reach RT's standards so they would like to have consider having someone tocome and cook meals for them on a regular basis. RT's partner drives them to RCHT for dialysis, but with dementia and driving in the rush hourtraffic morning and evening this may not be possible for very much longer. RT complained of many professionals coming to visit them over the pastmonths but with no positive outcome, only to take up time making them feel more tired and unsupported. 'I had been reluctant to allow you tocome when the GP suggested it, but when you called I thought your voice sounded caring and supportive so I thought I would let you come'.

Interventionto order and have completed AA forms by Age UK for RT and their partner. I would contact the Community Champion to seek a cook for providingmeals, provide information for live in care agencies.

ProgressA local volunteer with Age UK has completed the AA forms, outcome still pending. The local church and Community Champion have found apossible person interested in helping to provide meals with a food hygiene certificate. (Local cafes were keen to assist but due to current foodhygiene regulations they are unable to provide a take away style service). The community champion is making regular contact to ensure RT feelssupported emotionally and in a practical way too. RT says, 'Your ability to be able to help us in a practical way shines through, thank you'.

CASE STUDY REPAIR CAFE

BackgroundThe concept for a Repair cafe to be created in Truro came from a number of people living locally who were aware of their existence throughout thecounty and wanted to look at the possibility for having one set up in Truro. At the same time, the Social prescriber was signposting people aged50yrs - 75yrs with trade skills they wanted to be able to share with others in a voluntary capacity but didn't know where they could go to share theirexpertise. I arranged to meet with them to begin sharing ideas for a Repair cafe . Within the group, we discovered there was a carpenter, a costumedesigner, a gardener ,3 x DIY handymen and someone with lots of tools and a large workshop on offer. Following our first meeting, 3 members ofthe group went to visit a successful cafe in Penryn. One member has spent time carrying out research into the Dutch model. At the second meetingthe group were happy to meet with a member of the council with a specific focus on recycling and two members of the city council to discuss theirvision, which is providing additional support including information on grants that can be applied for to assist with set up costs, help withmarketing. A member of the group had been feeling very low in mood following early retirement due to ill health. He is now feeling much morepositive about the future which his partner has witnessed. As a result, she has decided to get involved too, so now the group have 2 members ableto alter clothes and provide simple clothing repairs. Mr X is keen to contact potential people interested in volunteering with the project, so now wehave linked people signposted to community connect interested in volunteering directly to Mr X who calls them to invite them to come along tomeetings. In addition, Mr X has offered to post flyers through the local neighbourhood doors. Mrs X said ' Mr X has always been a very sociableperson, so to have the opportunity this project has brought along is good for both of us'.

ProgressA possible venue has been sourced. Mr Y has offered his workshop for people to be able to work on bigger repair projects e.g. furniture repairs. Mvisited the Penryn cafe and due to a shortage of volunteers with sewing machine skills, she stepped in, shortened a pair of curtains, altered a pair ofjeans and serviced a sewing machine all of which she loved and is giving her back the confidence she needs to move on with life whilst giving to thecommunity. M is now taking responsibility for looking at the best scheme to follow to ensure the group has the appropriate insurance andgovernance to support it to bring to the next meeting to discuss with the group. Mr X has linked with the council representative responsible for openspaces whom he met at the last meeting and they are working together to help the Rosedale estate with planting a sensory garden and pots. Acouncil employee volunteers with a local radio station and since coming to the Repair cafe meeting has offered to raise awareness of the projectthrough the radio show he presents. The group have linked with a volunteer from the Frome Repair cafe to share ideas. Mr F hopes to meet withthe group when he comes on holiday to Cornwall next month. A Facebook page is planned.

CASE STUDY MR & MRS A

BackgroundMr and Mrs A and their foster child have always enjoyed sharing a great outdoor life together, from cycling and fishing to sailing until two years' agowhen Mr A suffered a stroke followed shortly after by a serious heart illness whilst on holiday abroad. Mrs A said, 'Overnight the lovely home weworked so hard to create became a hospital with carers, nurses, Doctors and other professionals going in and out the front door. One day I was awife , the next a full time carer then a wife.' Child A had a very close relationship with Mr A, who taught him to sail and enjoy life to the full despitechallenges he too faced. Since the time Mr A was taken ill, child A has become very withdrawn from Mr A and prefers to spend as much time aspossible away from the home, visiting friends which distresses Mrs A. Child A has become a young carer. Whilst child services and the school havebeen very supportive, child A refuses to engage. During my visit, I met child A briefly, but Mr and Mrs A and myself decided the approach we wouldtake would be meet with child A in due course to reduce the risk of making them feel pressured and under the spotlight.

InterventionI would contact Cornwall mobility centre to request a home visit to look at improving wheelchair stability in the car for Mr A. Currently he can onlytravel for very short distances without being travel sick which is forcing him to stay at home and is increasing his isolation. I would contact theSaleability scheme and arrange for Mr A to go out on the water in a motorboat initially, with a view to sailing on the specially adapted boat withchild A in the summer holidays . Mr A would work hard with the physio team who make home visits twice a week to improve his ability to stand,engaging with the exercise programme set in between their visits. This will help ensure he is fit enough to be taken out sailing. Mrs A was happy forme to pass her contact no onto a carer/buddy living locally for emotional support.

ProgressWe await the car assessment taking place, the boat trip has been booked for late June, the buddy has been in contact with Mrs A and has invited herto come to meet some more carers living locally when they next meet together. The GP who was unaware of the travel sickness issues has agreed toprescribe some suitable medication if required. A gentleman living locally who has always been a keen sailor too, has offered to visit Mr A at homefrom time to time to talk about all things sailing and provide some companionship. The community are providing emotional support to improve thewellbeing of Mr and Mrs A to reduce the feeling they have of their home now being a clinical setting Mr A is feeling motivated to make getting backonto the water a reality rather than just a dream. he can't wait for child A to join him sailing again in the summer. We hope child A will begin toexperience a reduction in their anxiety if the foster parents have a reduction in their anxieties and low mood. Child A will see through Mr A'sexample, life can move forward for him too, through determination and support given by friends and the support of the community.

CASE STUDY ZZ

BackgroundI received a request to support ZZ in their early 30's by the local GP. ZZ has been suffering with depression from the beginning of the year. UntilJanuary ZZ had been working for Kernow flex, but having been signed off sick with depression they had received no income and were unable to paythe rent, so had found temporary accommodation in a caravan nearby on farm land. The caravan had no running water, heating or toilet facilitiesand in February was very cold and muddy outside. The situation had led ZZ to feel more depressed. ZZ had completed housing and benefit forms,but there was no money coming in when life had become very difficult. We Agreed.. I would put ZZ in touch with Christians in Debt, a localrepresentative lives in the neighbourhood. I would provide information for the Philippi Trust a free counselling service and call back after theweekend when ZZ was hoping to have secured new lodgings. When I called again ZZ was moving to sleep on the couch belonging to a friend with ahouse a few miles away and was keen to sign up to a course I had found available in Truro for people of working age to train in horticulture. A weeklater ZZ called me in some distress. I could hear shouting and verbal abuse taking place in the background. Following advice I had learnt from VictimSupport I was able to ascertain ZZ felt in personal danger and urged ZZ to leave the property which they were reluctant to do, so with consent,contacted the local refuge who contacted ZZ. The following day, ZZ called to inform me the refuge had organised for mediation to take place and thesituation was improving, so they planned to stay at the property. I arranged for ZZ to receive foodbank vouchers and signposted to a free dailybreakfast facility provided by local volunteers in St Johns church in Truro which I had just found out about. So Far... ZZ is feeling much better, hasfound a job and hopes to do the horticulture course too. With a little bit of regular income, ZZ hopes to very soon be able to afford to rent a room ina house. 'Thank you for sticking with me, I'm not a bad person, just a lot of things have gone wrong for me this year'

CASE STUDY

BackgroundFlower club A member of the local flower club , read an article in Connect News giving details of the Community Connect project and felt this wassomething the flower club would like to be involved with. National Posy day takes place in March and the group invited me to attend one of theirmeetings to talk about how the club could help the project which could coincide with Posy day. I discussed with the surgery how we could best takeup the generous offer to support people who may benefit from receiving a posy both in March and in the coming months. The local prescriptionhome delivery service driver offered to help by delivering posies on his weekly 'Round'. During conversations at the surgery, a staff member heardabout the idea which she mentioned to her husband who works in Marks and Spencer and was aware that a number of flowers are disposed of on adaily basis, so the following day he contacted the store manager who agreed to flowers being handed over for use by the flower club to createposies for the people in the community, subject to a letter being received from the flower club outlining their plan.

ProgressThe club produce approx. 4 posies per month which are taken to the surgery on the day the prescription delivery driver works in the area. Thesurgery identify people whom they feel will benefit from a posy. Marks and Spencer have received the letter to allow flowers to be handed over bytheir staff member to the flower club. A lady in receipt of a posy said, 'What a lovely surprise! It so good to know people in the community care somuch'.

CASE STUDY YY

BackgroundYY , a single parent in their late 20's, attends the toddler group on a weekly basis with her 4yr old child. YY appears to be very withdrawn, choosingto sit away from the other parents during every session. During my visits I have had the opportunity to come along side them and try to engage inconversation. YY has told me she has two teenage sons from previous relationships with whom she has no contact, lives alone and rarely goes outdue to having very little income. The only people to visit are child related services. YY doesn't know her neighbours or people living in theneighbourhood. Being dependant on public transport to access groups is costly, but attends this group because she can walk the 2 mile returnjourney with her child in the pushchair and the cost is only £1. When I asked how YY spends her time when the child attends pre school, she replied,'I don't do anything, watch telly or go on my phone'.

ProgressI met YY on a visit to the clothes bank a few weeks' later, she smiled and we chatted briefly over a cup of tea. YY explained how valuable it was tohave access to the clothes bank and to be able to come here on a monthly basis, meet other parents ,find a few clothes for her growing child andhave a drink all free of charge. My next visit to the toddler group came four weeks' later. Once again I found YY sitting alone. I began a conversationand YY explained she was feeling very anxious, the child is due to start school in the autumn and she had been informed the school would becarrying out an assessment for autism. YY explained she had been left feeling frightened, wasn't sure what impact a confirmed diagnosis wouldmean and then asked if I could explain what autism was, 'What is autism, I don't know what it is, can you help me?' I encouraged her to talk anddiscussed the school would be seeking to exclude autism, but if it were found the child has the condition, lots of help and additional educationalsupport would be available to him. I have sought basic literature to pass onto YY explaining what autism is. YY has low functional skills and cannotseek information easily via the internet, but I have offered to support YY at school meetings in the future if required and signpost into basic literacyand numeracy classes to support potential employment opportunities, therefore becoming more independent and less dependant on the state forsupport. The plan is to keep the dialogue open and to help to build confidence with YY in an informal and non threatening setting. Professionalservices appear to have increased a parent's feeling of isolation and it is key Community Connect support YY to connect into the community, createfriendship groups, build up confidence skills for their wellbeing and the child too.

CASE STUDY K’s CAFE

BackgroundK's Café in Truro, was taken over at the beginning of 2019 by K and her family. K felt there was a gap in the current food and drink market in Trurowhich supported people in the community. Through a link at the council, we were 'Connected' and discussed way in which the cafe could meetsome of the needs being identified within the local Community.

ProgressSince meeting with K and her husband, they have established chatty cafe tables, two tables are set aside for people who come to the cafe on theirown and enjoy meeting and talking with others . The tables are set aside on a daily basis between 10am -11am. There is a community noticeboardfor local groups, resident associations and activities to showcase events taking place. A knitting group has been established, a craft evening is heldon Wednesday evenings and the cafe has registered to become a Safe Place with the Council. Future plans include a singles supper club and monthlycommunity breakfast events. The cafe provides a safe place within a central public area for people to connect and encouraged to actively becomeinvolved with their community, supporting people's wellbeing is the core focus of their business plan.

CASE STUDY TALKING CAFE

BackgroundThe Café was set up in Hendra Hall following a survey carried out by the Community Development officer asking local residents about theircommunity and what they felt could help to improve the feeling of wellbeing. Results showed reducing social isolation, and improving health werepeoples' main concerns. Invitations were sent out inviting residents to come to the hall for a coffee morning. The RVS were invited to join thesession to find out if the people coming to the open morning would like to meet on a regular basis, how often and where? Mandy from the RVSexplained to residents how the RVS could assist with setting up a group and be a point of contact for support and advice in relation to setting upaccounts, advertising, constitutions etc. if they would like help and support. The first cafe saw five people drop by and were keen to meet on aregular basis, deciding to meet twice a month in the hall. Access to the hall is a challenge with steps and limited parking, but with very little choicefor places to meet locally it was decided to continue to meet at the hall. More flyers were printed and with help from cafe members distributedaround the community with future dates for the cafe. We invited residents from the local residential home and encouraged the church and localshop to help with advertising . Everyone being enthusiastic .

ProgressNumbers have steadily grown from five to ten, some regulars, some new people to each session. I have connected the Council Home Solutions teamto the hall committee to look at access issues. The team have sent out a surveyor and plan to install an external stair lift . New communitynoticeboards have been requested and agreed, to assist with advertising local events to the community. The group are beginning to 'Takeownership' of their group allowing me to withdraw. The RVS have continued to support the group. Following a visit to the cafe by the countrysideranger, the group are keen to join with him for a walk exploring the local common area adjacent to Hendra and help with conservation work. Aresidents association has been formed.

CASE STUDY QQ

BackgroundQQ is a man in his late 80's who I was asked to make contact with via his GP. QQ is a very independent person who at times surgery staff finddifficult to engage with, but felt he could benefit from further community interaction and support. QQ was widowed a year ago and he is now themain carer for his son with learning needs. In addition, QQ has circulatory problems which require frequent monitoring, but QQ feels he is too busyto attend the surgery for frequent appointments. I met QQ on a sunny afternoon after he had returned from the local pub for his daily pint. Ilistened for ninety minutes to QQ whilst he told me about his past life in business, his love of cars, cooking and women and how lonely he felt nowthat his wife had passed away. Neighbours and family members he is estranged from. QQ is devoted to caring for his son and has been putting intoplace financial planning and support to ensure his son can be taken care of once he has died. QQ showed me around his home which is very old withuneven floors and a steep staircase. QQ declines hand and grab rails being fitted or adaptations being made despite being a frequent faller. He stillhas all his wife's clothes and possessions because he doesn't feel ready to part with them.

InterventionQQ agreed to attend a local lunch group with me. He didn't wish to socialise locally so we attended a group in a nearby village where he enjoyedmeeting with children from the local primary school. I have re visited QQ and spoken to him by phone on two occasions to ensure lines ofcommunication can be kept open. I have introduced QQ to Veterans Support to reduce a dependency occurring and to offer further assistance withusing his computer. QQ has shown interest in being involved with the school gardening group in the autumn.

ProgressWill be very slow due to QQ's personality which in the past has estranged him from the community, but by providing a gentle light touch approach,seeking different community options will provide a positive outcome for QQ. The GP has seen this as the 'Bridge' required between medical practiseand the community preventing non compliance to treatment and carers breakdown . This was demonstrated on my second visit when I found QQhad recently fallen in the garden, his leg was swollen and oozing serous fluid but hadn't informed the GP, choosing to self medicate. Before my visitended he gave me permission to report back my findings to the GP.

CASE STUDY PQ

A lady in her mid 80's I first met following to request by her GP . PQ has been caring for her husband who has been living with dementia for the pastfive years. They live in a remote area of the countryside and have no immediate family. PQ is exhausted caring for her husband day and night.Recently respite care was organised but the care home were unable to cope with Mr PQ and sent him home within 48hours of arrival. PQ told mehow she had recently fallen in the flower bed whilst hanging out the washing which she put down to sheer exhaustion. I listened to her story foralmost 2 hours, she said she was so pleased to be able to have a meaningful conversation with someone Progress I provided PQ contact details forthe charity Silverline so that she could contact them anytime day or night to have a conversation. I contacted the local carers group and Barbarafrom the group arranged to call PQ to invite her to the following meeting. Mr PQ has now been allocated a long term placement, but in the north ofthe county making it very difficult for PQ to visit. PQ is feeling very low in mood and isolated and has suffered a further fall. The GP and I are workingtogether to reduce further carers breakdown and to reduce further falls. PQ and I are planning to attend a falls prevention class together which willprovide information and education, an opportunity to socialise and meet new friends and begin to establish a new routine and purpose for PQwhich will reduce anxiety, improve wellbeing and demand on GP time.

CASE STUDY RS

A lady in her early 80's, signposted to the project by the Community Matron because she had been concerned RS was declining additional support,the house was showing signs of neglect, in particular there was out of date food in the fridge and concerns RS was eating a hot meal on a daily basis.During my visit RS, widowed for 5 years, talked about her twin sons, now living abroad who visit her 1-2 times a year. RS enjoys meeting a friendonce a week for lunch in Truro and frequently visits the shops for somewhere to go. Despite living in a retirement complex, RS feels isolated anddoesn't enjoy mixing with the residents at the weekly coffee morning. In the past RS has enjoyed many cycling holidays with her husband, they usedto ride a tandem together at weekends in the countryside. More recently RS enjoyed cooking and knitting, but admitted she found both to be a bitof a struggle these days.

ProgressI introduced RS to The Well, a group for older people led by the Methodist church in the centre of town and provides a hot lunch on a weekly basis.Here RS has been encouraged to start knitting again, squares for a blanket and enjoys helping to set the tables for lunch. Volunteer transport wasarranged for future visits to take her along and together we found a local taxi company who were willing to call ahead and remind RS they werecoming (A few failed pick ups, had necessitated for us to think about how RS could successfully attend group and social activities). After 6 weeks, Ire visited RS whilst her son was visiting. RS told me how much she was enjoying her trips to The Well and a second group I had introduced her to,Ruby Tuesdays. I now wanted to discuss and suggest having some support in the home. By now, the Community Matron and I were concernedmedication was not been taken as prescribed despite blister packs now being in place too. Together, we were able to persuade RS to try havingsome daily help to assist with homecare, showering and medication prompts. A daily visit would ensure some companionship too. I ordered AAforms and arranged for them to be completed by a local volunteer from Age UK. Regular reviews at MDT's have taken place and RS now attends anAge UK day centre 3 x days per week to ensure she receives a hot meal, companionship therefore, complementing the three days when she meetswith her friend and attends the church group. The son receives a monthly e mail from the day centre updating him on his Mum and the activities shehas been getting involved with, which provides him with points to talk to her about when he calls her on a weekly basis. Whilst it has taken approx.3 months to implement the interventions, it has prevented a care crisis arising. RS has continued to live at home which is very important to her, reengage with the community, has been provided with a clear weekly routine reducing further stress and anxiety to herself, accepted daily homesupport ensuring medication is being taken as prescribed, fresh food is kept in date, breakfast is provided and RS is ready for transport to dailyactivities.

CASE STUDY DS

'I felt so lonely and isolated in my flat before joining the group‘A lady in her late 70's, living alone, diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, depression and poor mobility, signposted for support by the Community

Matron to try to engage DS with local groups and activities. DS had previously enjoyed attending the day centre in Truro but following its closure,had not had anywhere to go for companionship during the week. DS has a supportive family living locally who visit her most weekends. I contactedDS and arranged to make a home visit. DS was tearful, still wearing her nightclothes late morning and very sad not to see her friends from the daycentre any more. Members of the centre had chosen to go to different groups and centres and some like DS, to go nowhere. DS took very littlepersuading to try joining a group for older people being held at the Methodist church in Truro. I arranged to meet her there the following week. DSsaid she would only stay for a short while, which I reassured her would be ok. DS organised her own transport with a local taxi company and camealong beautifully dressed including a string of pearls, make up and had been to the hairdressers, she looked amazing. During the visit, DS decidedshe wanted to stay for lunch and continued to stay for the whole session. DS didn't want to knit but was happy to be part of the conversations,particularly after she discovered some members of the group were old friends and their friendships were re kindled.

ProgressDS continues to attend the group. On week 3 she picked up some wool and needles from the table in front of her, slowly and quietly she began toknit with tears of joy streaming down her face 'I thought I would never knit again, I haven't picked up my needles for 8 years, now look at me!' DScontinues to face many challenges and previously depended on the community nurse team for support with social and housing needs. In addition tojoining the group, I have linked DS with the Home Solutions team and the British Legion Poppy Fund for assistance in the home. DS's confidencelevels have improved and we have been able to encourage DS to start using her walking frame outside of the home (Previously felt too ashamed andembarrassed to be seen in the town with the frame) therefore reducing the number of falls and emergency calls for the paramedics.

CASE STUDY CHATTY TABLE SCHEME

BackgroundFollowing the success of the Talking Café in Hendra, members of the café suggested we look at providing places across the city centre where peoplewho maybe on their own and seeking companionship, can meet with others in local cafes. The idea follows the national Chatty Table Scheme whichhas been set up in the past year. Together we talked about what was important to people, ease of access and independent cafes were seen to bethe priority by cafe members and from this a list of suggested outlets to approach was drawn up. Intervention I visited the cafes to check for accessand toilet facilities and invited a wheelchair user to help me too. All the venues visited were keen to take part and we now have a variety of venuescovering all areas of the town, offering a choice of days and times across the week. In addition, the cafes are registering to become part of the SafePlaces Scheme, providing a dedicated member of staff or volunteer to oversee the 'Tables' and to ensure people who come to sit at the table arenot left alone.

Progress3 x volunteers from the original Hendra Talking Cafe are now offering to oversee the Talking Tables across the city by rotating to the differentvenues to try to ensure the cafes have additional support to meet with people, signpost to local activities and events or to organisations who canhelp them with information and advice. More venues are seeking to take part and we hope to have Talking Tables available within the city sevendays per week very shortly. The Wheelchair user volunteer has continued to visit cafes across Truro together we are creating a 'Map' identifyingwheelchair friendly cafes in Truro. Participating cafes have all experienced people coming to the Chatty tables. We are finding a significant numberare coming seeking support . These people feel they have no one else to turn to, they haven't presented at the surgery with issues impacting ontheir wellbeing. Some are struggling, but have been unable to find the support they require from their surgeries. This is demonstrated by thenumbers of carers attending the cafes seeking support and signposting. Providing safe and open venues across the city for people to come and talk,find the support they require will reduce demand on surgery time, provide an intervention service to prevent a crisis, reduce loneliness, requiresminimal funding, therefore a sustainable model for the future. 'You've given me a purpose to get up again in the morning'

Information Classification: CONTROLLED#

Truro & The Roseland Highways Scheme Tranche Two - Prioritisation Options

Ref. Applicant 100%LTP Criteria

Scores 100% 80% Balance 75% BalanceTR19 St Erme Parish Council £14,000.00 24 £14,000.00 £11,200.00 £2,800.00 £10,500.00 £3,500.00TR18 Ladock Parish Council £13,000.00 23 £13,000.00 £13,000.00 £0.00 £13,000.00 £0.00TR15 Councillor Loic Rich £9,500.00 20 £9,500.00 £9,500.00 £0.00 £9,500.00 £0.00TR21 St Clement Parish Council £22,000.00 20 £22,000.00 £17,600.00 £4,400.00 £16,500.00 £5,500.00TR22 Probus Parish Council £17,000.00 20 £17,000.00 £13,600.00 £3,400.00 £12,750.00 £4,250.00TR24 St Just in Roseland Parish Council £20,000.00 20 £20,000.00 £16,000.00 £4,000.00 £15,000.00 £5,000.00TR14 Chacewater Parish Council £3,500.00 19 £3,500.00 £2,800.00 £700.00 £2,625.00 £875.00TR16 Councillor Rob Nolan £5,680.00 18 £5,680.00 £5,680.00 £0.00 £5,680.00 £0.00TR17 Councillor Biscoe £5,000.00 18 £5,000.00 £5,000.00 £0.00 £5,000.00 £0.00TR13 Kea Parish Council £28,000.00 17 £0.00 £22,400.00 £5,600.00 £21,000.00 £7,000.00TR20 Feock Parish Council £9,500.00 17 £0.00 £7,600.00 £1,900.00 £7,125.00 £2,375.00TR23 Truro City Council £3,500.00 17 £0.00 £2,800.00 £700.00 £2,625.00 £875.00

Total £150,680.00 £109,680.00 £127,180.00 £23,500.00 £121,305.00 £29,375.00Budget £127,208.00Variance (23,472.00) 17,528.00 28.00 5,903.00

1

2

3

4

5

Notes

Option 3Option 2Option 1

It is suggested that projects in BLUE TEXT are allocated 100% of requested funding. This is where a) Ladock Parish Council is only seeking 50% of the total project costs as it has already identified local funding for the remaining 50% and b) Cornwall Councillors do not have access to any other sources of funding for highways schemes and therefore could not reasonably be asked to provide any match funding.

The indicative costs for all 12 Expressions of Interest total £150,680, nearly £23,500 over the remaining balance of £127,208.Option 1 - Projects have been ranked by Local Transport Plan (LTP) score. To fund 100% of the top nine projects leaving a balance (contingency) of circa £17,500. When the full worked up costs come in, to consider allocation of some of the contingency to address a) variances from the initial costs to the worked up costs for the top 9 projects and b) consideration of allocation of some of the remaining budget to those 3 projects all on 17 LTP points.Option 2 - To allocate 80% of requested funding to all projects and seek a commitment from all Parishes (except Ladock PC) to fund the balance of 20% along with any variance from initial costs to fully worked up costs when they come in.

Option 3 - To allocate 75% of requested funding to all projects and seek commitment for all Parishes (except Ladock PC) to fund the balance of 25%. The circa £6,000 variance will be retained as a contingency to address any increases in costs when fully worked up costs are received. If when all worked up costs are received the £6,000 remaining does not cover the difference, a further discussion will be had regarding allocation of the £6,000 and potentially further contributions that may be required by Parishes.

Finance & General Purposes Committee E

Committee Agenda 16th March 2020

Standing Order 17b Matters of Urgency

The Standing Orders, agreed by the Council in December 2019 state: -

Delegation of Powers

b Matters of Urgency When decisions of an urgent nature have to be made between meetings of Committees, the Town Clerk shall be given delegated powers to act in consultation with the appropriate Chairman or Vice-Chairman and Mayor or Deputy Mayor, the decision to be reported back to the next Committee meeting

Background

We are in unprecedented times when due to the coronavirus the City Council has suspended all meetings. The Finance & General Purposes Committee, was due to meet on the 16th March, the Agenda was circulated, but the meeting was cancelled.

A number of agenda items included recommendations that need to be taken in the near future, prior to the anticipated date of the next meeting. Under these circumstances, bearing in mind that legally at the present time we are unable to legally make decisions “virtually”, all Councillors were circulated with the attached document with the request to indicate if they were in favour of the Urgency procedure being used. The replies are also attached but in summary 18 councillors agreed with the urgency procedure being used, 5 did not respond, and 1 was not clearly in favour or against.

In the circumstances I propose to approve the following: -

AUDIT POLICY DOCUMENTS Risk Strategy

1) That the attached Risk Strategy is Approved

2) That it is Reviewed in one year’s time

Risk Register

1) That the attached Risk Register is approved 2) It is Reviewed when considering new services and assets 3) That the next general review is carried out at the September 2020 meeting of the

Finance & General Purposes Committee with any significant new risks being notified as they become known.

Banking & Investment Strategy 2020-21

That the attached Banking & Investment Strategy is approved

Review of Financial Regulations

To make no amendments to the existing Financial Regulations

Payroll Work 1 That the recommendation for assimilation to the new pay scales are agreed. 2 That the principal of job profiles is adopted. The draft profiles will be further refined

by managers. 3 That the job evaluation review is agreed. In the future that we commission Cornwall

Council to provide a professional review of each grading appeal prior to consideration by Councillors.

4 That we complete the update of the recognition agreement with the Trade Unions

Malpas Community Centre Recommendation

That we enter into a short term (4 month) agreement for the Chaos Group to manage this building and develop community uses.

Grateful for your comments

Roger Gazzard

Town Clerk

F Finance & General Purposes Committee 15th June 2020 Community Infrastructure Levy We have been notified that we are to receive £23,058.75 for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) planning contribution (replaces S106) relating to the development of eight properties on New Mills Lane.

The rules on spending the money are: -

CIL Regulation 59C sets out that a local council must use CIL receipts passed to it to ‘support the development of the local council’s area, or any part of that area, by funding:

a. the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure: or b. anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on

an area͛.

6.2. The Town or Parish Council can pass back CIL to the Charging Authority to support the delivery of infrastructure projects and/or maintenance of infrastructure that the local council does not have jurisdiction or responsibility for, e.g., extensions to schools. Local councils may also wish to pool their CIL receipts with other neighbouring local councils to deliver some infrastructure that will be mutually beneficial.

The Park and Amenities considered this last week and the draft minute is: -

Item 9 Proposed by Cllr Biscoe seconded by Cllr Ellis

Recommended to F&GP that:

(1) The Town Clerk & Parks & Amenities Manager accept the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) planning contribution of £23,058.75 relating to the development of 8 properties on New Mills Lane;

(2) The Parks & Amenities Manager look at the CIL planning contribution (referred to above) together with the £10,000 contribution from the Harbour Authority & consider how best to link the Boscawen Park Tidal Defences & Nursery Site developing improvement schemes; &

(3) Report back to a future Parks & Amenities Committee meeting.

This committee also has a development proposal underway with the Moresk Day Centre. The Council agreed expenditure of up to £88,000 in alterations to open the centre. At present tenders have been sought, three have been received and negotiations are under way to reduce the price to the budget amount.

Recommendation

That the committee consider the options for the use of the monies.

Roger Gazzard

Town Clerk